Villarreal-Athletic Club PREVIEW

After losing their last three matches, we will be expecting to take three points against a floundering Atletic Bilbao.  Just on a quick note,if you get a chance to visit Bilbao, it is a beautiful city to visit.

But after our draw to Malaga we will be dying to prove ourselves and send the lions back to that beautiful city with another loss.  The match kicks of at 8 spanish time and El Madrigal will be full of expectant fans.

Villarreal
Luciano Vietto won the Liga BBVA Player of the Month award, and will be starting for sure.  It is hard to decide who will be starting with him; Gio got his first goal in 845 minutes against Real Sociedad while Gerard Moreno also staked his claim with a brilliant goal.  However, Uche was also rested against La Real, so he is likely to start.

Midfield will be standard, except that Pina is likely to partner Bruno due to Trigueros's suspension.

Jonathan and Cheryshev are likely to start on the wing, Marcelino is likely to stick with his staring XI. Again there will be contention for cb with with Gabriel and Victor playing fantastically well this season. But after that shocking defence against Malaga we may see Mateo return to the squad.

The team selection is:

• Keepers: Asenjo, Juan Carlos.
• Defenders: Mario, Rukavina, Jaume Costa, Musacchio, Dorado, Gabriel, Víctor Ruiz.
• Midfielders: Bruno, Jonathan dos Santos, Pina, Moi Gómez, Cheryshev.
• Strikers: Uche, Vietto, Giovani,  Gerard Moreno.

Adrian Marin and Bojan Jokic are listed as being injured; interestingly, no mention of Hernán Pérez.

Bilbao
Andoni Iraola will be returning at right-back. with Oscar De Marcos back into his favoured attacking midfield. Unlucky for them, not too bad for us is Iker Muniain will be unavailable with the striker suspended for two games after his tantrums against Athletic's defeat to Elche.

Their team call is: Iraizoz, Laporte, San José, Beñat, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Ibai, Bustinza, Iago Herrerín, Susaeta, Iraola, X.Etxeita, Mikel Rico, Gurpegi, Aduriz, Viguera, Balenziaga, Unai López y Williams.

My predictions haven’t been too good of late. I’d hate to jinx our season further, but I'll say a safe 3-0 to the Yellows

(Allen says: I like 3-1)