La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Levante

Posted on | February 7, 2008 | No Comments

Will Levante be able to pull off an historic fight back and save themselves from almost certain relegation? That’s the big question being asked around Spain’s many bars of late. On paper it seems to be an impossible task, Levante being ten points adrift at the bottom of La Liga and with just three wins out of twenty two games. Most people would write them off completely, but for the fact that there are five or six teams above them which are having exceptional problems winning matches as well. Levante have taken five points from their last three matches but it should have been seven points from nine as last weekend they were denied the win against Racing de Santander when the referee awarded the visitors an inexistent penalty. They now face another direct rival to their relegation fight and if they play like they have in their last two games, could pull off another vital win.
Athletic Bilbao are having one of those very forgettable seasons so far. They are fifteenth in the league and one of four teams on twenty three points. Murcia are in the relegation zone only through goal difference and anything but a win for Athletic will bring dire consequences for coach Caparros. They have won just two home games this season and lost two as well. The other seven were all drawn and that says a lot about their season. This week, three players were fined by the club for reasons not yet known. Fran Yeste, Iban Zubiaurre and ex Chelsea defender Asier Del Horno refuse to tell the press what happen exactly but sources say they broke one of the club’s internal rules. Speculation involves an early morning incident at a night club, but as yet the facts are unclear. This goes a long way to show that there is a lot of tension at the club and Athletic seem to be going from one scandal to the next, while the football takes second place.
I’m going for a draw in this match. Athletic Bilbao are having problems keeping clean sheets as well as scoring goals, and Levante seem to have found a good streak. However, I don’t think they will be capable of getting all three points from this one.
Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona
2. La Liga: Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao
3. La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao
4. La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Valladolid
5. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Athletic Bilbao

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