La Liga: Zaragoza vs. Athletic Bilbao

Posted on | May 18, 2007 | No Comments

Both teams go into this game with a lot to win and a lot to lose. Zaragoza need to cement their fifth place in the league and make sure they gain a spot in next season’s UEFA cup, while Athletic Bilbao are just four points above the drop zone and a defeat here could spell disaster. They haven’t won in five matches and you would have to go back to January to find their last away win.
Historically, Athletic Bilbao have a pretty good record at the Romareda stadium. They have won two, lost two and drawn six in the last ten encounters. Another draw looks likely on Saturday night but I doubt if either team would be happy with one point.
Zaragoza are hoping to carry on their good form and maybe even snatch the Champions league place from Valencia, who are now seven points above them. Unfortunately, this is increasingly unlikely, as last week Zaragoza lost to them by two goals to nil. Still, there are four games remaining and in this league anyone is capable of beating anyone. In recent weeks Zaragoza has seen something of a slump in form and they had better be careful not to lose sight of their objective. After the Bilbao game they have a tremendously difficult away game to UEFA cup winners Sevilla, then they play host to Real Madrid and finally another difficult away match to Recreativo de Huelva. Not precisely the fixtures you would like at the end of the season. Another worrying problem for Zaragoza is the goal draught of Diego Milito. Defender Pique, who will almost certainly return to Manchester United at the end of the season after his loan spell is over, is also out through injury.
As for Athletic Bilbao, they are having all sorts of problems. Just four points from the relegation zone, they could see themselves going down for the first time in their history. This extraordinary feat is made even more extraordinary by the fact that they don’t have any foreign or Spanish players. In all their history they have only used players from the Basque Country, a small region in the North of Spain.
I think this game is going to end in a draw. Zaragoza aren’t playing too well and the pressure of trying to get into the Champions league is beginning to show, Athletic just don’t have what it takes to take all three points home with them.
Prediction: Draw (0-0)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Zaragoza
2. La Liga: Sevilla vs. Athletic Bilbao
3. La Liga: Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao
4. La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao
5. La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Mallorca

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