y
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Bilbao is coming after a 0-0 draw at Vicente Calderon vs. Atletico Madrid … the 2nd consecutive draw and the 4th match in a row in which they did not taste defeat. Bilbao has played some of the best football in La Liga in the past 2 months and now with the Copa Del Rey final inching closer, they want to keep it up and be in the best possible form when the big game comes. Bilbao won 14 of the last 18 possible points at home in La Liga Primera … 4 wins and 2 draws. For today hosts will miss Muniain, Iraola, Gomez and the suspended Bustinza.
Deportivo will hope they can take advantage of Eibar’s somewhat surprising loss on Friday and climb out of the relegation zone with a win or (more likely) tie Eibar in points with a draw result today … but of course it will not be easy at San Mames, especially with Deportivo’s current form: 13 consecutive games without a win … 7 wins, 6 draws. Depor is also not particularly a good team when traveling, posting a statline of 2 wins, 6 draws and 9 losses on the road this season. Wilk is ruled out of the lineup today … Dominguez and Cavaleiro are questionable.
Deportivo is the team that needs the points more and for sure they will leave their hearts out on the pitch today … but even so it is hard to see them coming at San Mames and getting something … specially not in this kind of form and when Athletic is playing such good football. I don’t expect Bilbao to hand Depor a big beating but it should be a routine home win … a close score maybe, but without any real tension about the final result.
My tip will be an Athletic Bilbao win … they can’t afford to lose form and morale coming into the Copa Del Rey final. Correct score prediction: Athletic Bilbao – Deportivo La Coruna 2-1.
Pick: Athletic Bilbao
Odds: 1.65
