:Headline: Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Granada - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Friday's La Liga clash between Athletic Bilbao and Granada, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Athletic Bilbao's battle to finish in the top four in La Liga will continue on Friday evening, when they welcome relegation-threatened Granada to San Mames.
The Lions are currently fifth in the division, four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, while Granada sit 19th, 11 points from the safety of 17th position with seven games left.
Match preview
Athletic were crowned Copa del Rey winners for the 2023-24 campaign earlier this month, and they were then back in league action against Villarreal on Sunday, sharing the points with the Yellow Submarine in a 1-1 draw.
Ernesto Valverde's side took the lead in the 66th minute of the contest through Oihan Sancet and were on course to secure all three points until Dani Parejo scored a penalty in the 95th minute.
The Lions sit fifth in the division, four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on the same number of matches (31), with the Basque outfit very much in the fight to secure a first Champions League finish in Spain's top flight for 10 years.
Valverde's side will take on Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano in their next match after this one, but they do have a relatively kind end to the season in terms of their fixture list, and Atletico will have been wounded by their Champions League quarter-final elimination to Borussia Dortmund.
Athletic have been impressive at home this season, securing 37 points from their 16 matches, suffering just one defeat in the process, while Granada have the worst away record in the division, having only picked up two points from their 15 games on the road.
Granada are actually unbeaten in their last three league matches with Athletic, while they have been victorious in three of their last six fixtures against the Basque outfit, suffering just one defeat in the process.
Jose Ramon Sandoval's side will be up against it on Friday evening, though, as they go in search of just their fourth league victory of the campaign.
A difficult season has seen Granada pick up just 17 points from their 31 league matches, which has left them in 19th spot in the table, 11 points behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo.
The strugglers will enter this match off the back of a huge result, though, beating Alaves 2-0 last weekend to end a five-game losing run, while it proved to be their first victory since the start of January.
Granada, who will face Real Madrid and Girona in two of their final three league games of the campaign, are the reigning Segunda Division champions, but it will take a huge effort in the final weeks of the season in order to make it back-to-back campaigns at this level of football.
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:
- L
- D
- W
- W
- L
- D
Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):
Granada La Liga form:
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
Team News
Yeray Alvarez will have to undergo a late fitness test before it is determined whether the defender will be available for Athletic, who could have a full squad available for this contest.
Indeed, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta is available again after a suspension, and the midfielder is set to return to the XI, with Mikel Vesga expected to be the player to drop to the bench.
There will not be any changes further forward, though, with Inaki Williams, Sancet and Nico Williams again set to operate in support of Gorka Guruzeta, while Aitor Paredes should continue in the middle of the defence.
As for Granada, Oscar Melendo remains a doubt due to a muscular issue, but the visitors are otherwise in strong shape ahead of the clash at San Mames.
Gonzalo Villar is perhaps the player pushing the hardest to break into the XI for this match, but it is likely to be a case of same again for the strugglers on Friday night.
Lucas Boye and Myrto Uzuni scored the goals against Alaves last time out and will continue in the final third of the field, while there should be another start in a wide area for on-loan Manchester United attacker Facundo Pellistri.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
Granada possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Mendez, Rubio, Miquel, Neva; Pellistri, Gumbau, Ruiz, Jozwiak; Boye, Uzuni
We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Granada
Granada will be aiming to make it back-to-back wins on Friday, and the result over Alaves would certainly have boosted their confidence, but Athletic are so strong at home, and we are fully expecting the Lions to secure all three points in routine fashion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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