Athletic Bilbao’s fight for a top-six place is nearly over. The Lions are likely to come up short in their battle for European qualification.
On Thursday night, Athletic Bilbao will visit Osasuna, as they try to close the game between themselves and sixth-place Real Betis.
#MadeinTajonar 🔥🏡❤️ #LetsGoRojillos pic.twitter.com/Bncj2nCxpp— C. A. OSASUNA (@osasuna_en) May 23, 2023
#MadeinTajonar 🔥🏡❤️ #LetsGoRojillos pic.twitter.com/Bncj2nCxpp
Six points separate the two teams with just three games to go.
Osasuna are 10th in the standings. Since losing the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid, Osasuna have been up and down in the league.
They go into matchday 36 losers of three of their last four La Liga fixtures.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, picked up a win at the weekend, defeating Celta Vigo 2-1 at home. The win ended a four-match winless streak.
The victory may have rescued Athletic Bilbao’s hopes of making the top six. There is still a lot of work to do.
The teams have met three times already this season in all competitions. The reverse fixture in La Liga saw the clubs draw nil-nil at San Mames.
Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao then met in the Copa del Rey semifinals, with the former going through to the final. The first leg ended 1-0 in Osasuna’s favour at home. The second leg played at Athletic Club’s San Mames finished 1-1.
Los Rojillos are in slightly better form going into the match on Thursday night. They took nine points from the last six games, scoring seven goals and conceding nine times.
Athletic Bilbao picked up seven points from the last six matches. They scored six goals and conceded 10 times. Osasuna are playing well at home.
Los Rojillos took nine points from the last 12 on offer at El Sadar. Twenty-eight of their 47 points came from matches at home.
Athletic Bilbao are winless in their last two away matches. Twenty-three of their 50 points came from away fixtures. The Lions play nearly as well on the road as they do at home.
Osasuna’s Darko Brasanac will miss the final three games of the season with an ACL injury. Meanwhile, Nacho Vidal, Moi Gomez, and Abde Ezzalzouli are all in line to return to the team for the fixture.
Ernesto Valverde could have defenders Inigo Martinez and Yeray Alvarez available following their injury issues. However, forward Jon Morcillo could miss the fixture with a shoulder injury.
Osasuna went unbeaten in their three meetings with Athletic Club earlier this season. Los Rojillos should post another home win over the Lions on Thursday night.
The fixture should finish 2-1 in favour of Osasuna, ending Athletic Club’s top-six dreams.