Real Valladolid will be bidding to continue their recent run of impressive form when they take on Athletic Bilbao in Spain's top flight on Tuesday evening.
The visitors are currently 10th in the La Liga table, boasting 17 points from their opening 13 matches of the season, while Athletic occupy seventh, having struggled for results in recent weeks.
Match preview
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Athletic's excellent start to the campaign left them inside the top four at the start of October, but it has been a difficult few weeks for the Basque outfit, who have only won once in the league since the end of September.
Ernesto Valverde's side have lost three of their last five in the league, meanwhile, including a 2-1 defeat at Girona on Friday night, which has left them in seventh position in the table.
All things considered, it has still been a solid start to the campaign for Athletic, who are only two points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid, and they will fancy their chances of making a strong challenge for a European spot this term.
The Lions are actually the third-highest scorers in the league this season behind Real Madrid (29) and Barcelona (31), having found the back of the net on 21 occasions, but they have also conceded 14, which is a high number considering their position in the table.
Athletic were held to a 2-2 draw by Real Valladolid in the corresponding match last season, with the Basque outfit failing to overcome their opponents here at home since January 2014.
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Real Valladolid, meanwhile, have been in impressive form of late, winning three of their last four matches in Spain's top flight, including a 2-1 success over Elche on Saturday.
The team's strong form has seen them rise into 10th position in the table, boasting 17 points from their opening 13 matches, and they are only four points behind their opponents on Tuesday night.
The White and Violets have finished 16th, 13th and 19th in their last three La Liga campaigns, earning promotion back to this level courtesy of their second-place finish in the Segunda Division last term.
Real Valladolid have not posted a top-half finish in the top flight since 1999-2000, when they were eighth, so it could be a famous campaign for the club if they continue to pick up positive results.
Pacheta's side will travel to Barbadas in the Copa del Rey on Saturday, which will represent their final match before the campaign is halted for the 2022 World Cup.
Team News
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Athletic will again be without the services of Ander Herrera, Iker Muniain and Dani Garcia for Tuesday's contest, but the Lions did not pick up any fresh concerns against Girona.
Head coach Valverde is expected to make at least a couple of changes to the side that started the 2-1 defeat, with Oscar de Marcos and Unai Vencedor in line for starting roles.
There are unlikely to be wholesale alterations despite the disappointing loss last time out, although Oier Zarraga is another option for change in a midfield area.
As for Real Valladolid, Kenedy, Luis Perez and Anuar Tuhami will again be missing through injury.
The visitors have no fresh fitness issues ahead of this match, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field for the victory over Elche.
A front three should include Oscar Plano and Gonzalo Plata, with Sergio Leon operating through the middle.
Kike Perez and Shon Weissman are among the options for change, but head coach Pacheta will be reluctant to change a winning side on Tuesday night.
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Yeray, I Martinez, Yuri; Sancet, Vencedor; N Williams, R Garcia, Berenguer; I Williams
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Masip; Rosa, Fernandez, J Sanchez, Escudero; I Sanchez, Mesa, Aguado; Plata, Leon, Plano
We say: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid will enter this match full of confidence, but the same cannot be said for Athletic due to their recent struggles. Athletic will be the favourites on Tuesday, but Real Valladolid's form deserves a lot of respect, and we are backing the visitors to secure a share of the spoils.
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Top tip
Matt Law
