The race for La Liga’s Champions League spot is starting to look clearer by the week.
However, fifth-place Athletic Club will feel they are not out of the picture just yet as they welcome Real Mallorca to San Mames on Friday night.
There is now a five-point gap between Ernesto Valverde’s team and fourth-place Atletico Madrid after Diego Simeone’s outfit recorded a midweek 2-1 home win against Rayo Vallecano.
🔝 Gearing up for Friday!2⃣ days until #AthleticRCDMallorca#AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/2v6oMvZmJJ— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) January 31, 2024
🔝 Gearing up for Friday!2⃣ days until #AthleticRCDMallorca#AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/2v6oMvZmJJ
Athletic have slipped up in the last two La Liga games suffering a 1-0 defeat at Valencia before a disappointing goalless draw against Cadiz last time out.
A lack of goals has been a theme running right through Athletic Club’s recent games, as five of their previous six matches in the Spanish top flight have produced under 2.5 goals.
Despite their questionable recent away form, Los Leones have an excellent recent record in La Liga at San Mames.
They have now recorded five straight home Liga wins while remaining unbeaten in ten games.
Real Mallorca will be slightly nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, as the Islanders are now just four points clear of the bottom three.
A 1-0 defeat at San Moix last time out in the Spanish top-flight means that they are winless in their previous four outings in La Liga.
Their recent outings in the Spanish top flight have lacked goals, as their four winless games have all produced under 2.5 goals.
Mallorca have found away games challenging of late in La Liga, as Javier Aguirre’s team has failed to win in eight away matches in the Spanish top flight.
Forebet predicts that Athletic Club will extend their recent winning home run to six games by recording a win in a low-scoring encounter.