11 December 2021, 10:27 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The LaLiga Santander fixture, Athletic Club vs. Sevilla FC, kicks off at 21:00 (GMT+1) on Saturday, December 11, at San Mamés.
Preview Athletic Club La Liga, Dec 11, 2021
Preview Athletic Club picked up a goalless draw against Getafe last Monday at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. With the exception of ball possession, 55%, Athletic Club had fewer numbers than Getafe with regards to shots taken, 9SHTS/3OT, versus Getafe’s 17SHTS/5OT. However, both sides failed to break the deadlock, despite several clear-cut chances at both ends. A total of 862 delicate passes were put together over the course of ninety minutes. The results have the Bilbao-based side without a victory in five games: LDDLD, and saw the club drop a step, from 8th to 9th place, having picked up 21 points after 4W, 9D, and 3L. A quick look at the numbers leaves us with a goal ratio of 0.81 g.p.g. this season, having scored 13 goals in 16 LaLiga games. Athletic Club has also conceded 11 goals (0.69 goals conceded per game) and has a goal difference of +2. For the game against Getafe, Marcelino García went with the conventional 4—4—2 formation, leaving the duo, Iñaki Williams and Raúl García in attack. The 54-year-old could be doing the same again on Saturday, for this game against Sevilla.
Preview Sevilla La Liga, Dec 11, 2021
Preview Sevilla was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday but found their way into the Europa League having finished 3rd in UCL Group G. On UCL MD6, RB Salzburg defeated ten-man Sevilla with a single goal from Noah Okafor (50'). Back on Spanish soil, the club picked up a 1-0 win over Villarreal last weekend. A single strike from Lucas Ocampos (16') eventually divided both sides at full-time at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The narrow victory saw Sevilla move from 4th to 2nd place on the LaLiga table, having picked up 31 points from 9W, 4D, and 2L. Having a narrow one-point lead over the closest rival, Real Betis, failure to pick up maximum points here would likely see Sevilla drop to third place. Julen Lopetegui’s side has the form: WWDLW, ahead of this fixture against Athletic Club. Focusing on the numbers, Los Palanganas have 25 goals after 15 La Liga games. - A goal ratio of 1.67 goals scored per game. Sevilla has also conceded 11 goals (0.73 goals per match) so far this season and has a G.D. of +14. Julen Lopetegui is expected to utilize the 4—3—3 formation with Rafa Mir, Papu Gomez, and Lucas Ocampos in attack for this fixture against Athletic Club. Suso (ankle injury) recently joined the list of players on the treatment table. Meanwhile, Erik Lamela has undergone shoulder surgery and is ruled out for the rest of the year, alongside Jesús Navas. In addition, Youssef En-Nesyri (muscular problems) remains doubtful for this fixture.