Basque Lions Aim to Roar Back in Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca La Liga Clash. Athletic Bilbao will be hungry to return to winning ways when they host Mallorca at the iconic San Mames on Friday night in La Liga's 23rd round. This Basque derby promises an exciting encounter, with both sides chasing contrasting goals at different ends of the table.

Athletic Bilbao Seeking Redemption at Home

Currently sitting fifth in La Liga, Athletic Bilbao are firmly in the top-four race. However, their recent form has stuttered, with only one point earned from their last two matches. They'll be eager to bounce back on home soil, where they boast a formidable record, collecting 26 points from 11 games. Their powerful attacking force, led by the pacey Nico Williams and the creative Oihan Sancet, will be looking to exploit any openinings in the next  Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca match.

Mallorca Treading Water Above the Drop Zone

Mallorca find themselves in a more precarious position, occupying 15th place, just four points above the relegation zone. Their season has been characterized by draws (11) rather than wins (3), highlighting their inconsistency. The return of Vedat Muriqi from injury provides a boost to their attacking options, but they'll need to be at their best to avoid defeat against a motivated Athletic Bilbao side.

Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca Key Matchups 

Nico Williams vs. Pablo Maffeo (if fit): The lightning-fast Williams will be a constant threat down the right flank, and his duel with Maffeo, if he recovers from injury, promises to be an exciting one.

Oihan Sancet vs. Dani Rodríguez: The creative hub of Athletic's midfield, Sancet, will look to unlock the Mallorca defense with his intelligent passing, while Rodríguez will aim to disrupt his rhythm and win possession for his team.

Vedat Muriqi vs. Yeray Álvarez: The physical battle between the powerful Muriqi and the experienced Álvarez will be crucial in determining who controls the aerial duels and potentially creating scoring opportunities.

Athletic Bilbao vs Mallorca Prediction

Despite their recent dip in form, Athletic Bilbao's home advantage and attacking prowess make them the favorites to win. However, Mallorca's resilience and ability to grind out results cannot be underestimated. We expect a closely contested match, with Athletic Bilbao edging out a narrow 2-1 victory.

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