Elche – Ath Bilbao : Preview & Prediction
For the first time since 2014-15, Elche plays a second consecutive season in LaLiga Santander (LL), after finishing 2020-21 winning the last two days. The goal of the franjiverdes remains permanence, something they have not achieved for more than two seasons since their relegation in 1988-89.
Elche’s good ending last season included a 2-0 win over Athletic Club at the Martínez Valero, and after winning the lions again this Monday, the Elche club will chain three victories in the top flight for the first time since October 2018. However, Elche have since lost all five subsequent LL games on two-win streaks, missing the target four times.
Athletic Club played two Copa del Rey finals last season, but their LL performance was below expectations (10th, 46 points). The Lions, who start the championship away for the second consecutive season, have scored points in three of their last four league premieres (G2, E1, P1), although they suffered that only defeat last season (2-0 at Los Cármenes).
In the last championship, Athletic won only a quarter of the away games in which they had the status of favorites (G2, E2, P4), averaging only 0.84 points away from home (1.58 in San Mamés) despite the absence of public in the stands. It should be noted that the visiting teams have lost without scoring a single goal in each of the five matches on the bench between Fran Escribá and Marcelino.
Players to watch: last May, Elche exercised the purchase option for Lucas Boyé, Franco-green top scorer in LL 2020-21 with seven goals (two assists) in 34 games, including the one that opened the winning score by 2 -0 on Athletic. In Athletic, Iñaki Williams (six goals, six assists in LL 2020-21) is only seven games away from equaling the record of 202 league games played consecutively that Juan Antonio Larrañaga chained with Real Sociedad. Extraordinary.
Highlight: Elche has not seen the door and has been defeated in each of its last five premieres in the First Division.
Elche – Ath Bilbao : Betting Tips
Elche – Win Odds: 3.25
Both teams to score / YES – Odds: 1.70
Over 2.5 Goals – Odds: 1.70
