La Liga
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Played
February 4, 2012 12:00 PM EST
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao
Referee:‬ David Fernandez Borbalan‎
Attendance:‬ 30000‎
 

La Liga Preview: Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol

Marcelo Bielsa's side could conceivably break into the Champions League places with victory over the Catalan outfit at San Mames.

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol
Fernando Llorente, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal (MARCA)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATHLETIC BILBAO


Iraizoz
Iraola, Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe
Iturraspe, Herrera
Susaeta, De Marcos, Muniain
Llorente
ESPANYOL


Casilla
Galan, Rodriguez, Moreno, Didac
Forlin, Baena
Weiss, Verdu, Romaric
Uche

Athletic Bilbao has a clean bill of health heading into the fifth-versus-sixth clash against Espanyol on Saturday. Oscar de Marcos is available again after serving a one-match suspension in last weekend's 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino may hand a debut to new signing Kalu Uche, with strikers Walter Pandiani, Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Vasquez all sidelined through injury.

Portuguese forward Rui Fonte (ankle) and midfielder Joan Verdu (flu) are both expected to be fit in time for the trip to Bilbao.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Athletic Bilbao could climb to fourth in the league table if it beats Espanyol, provided results elsewhere go the team's way.
  • The Basque club is on a five-game winning streak at San Mames in all competitions, outscoring its opponents 12-1 in those matches.
  • Built in 1913, Athletic's San Mames stadium, which is also known by the nickname "The Cathedral", is the oldest stadium in Spain.
  • Espanyol has won four of its last six encounters with Athletic Bilbao, although none of those victories came at San Mames.
  • The Catalan club has won just one of its last eight away games in all competitions.
  • Alvaro Vasquez (pictured) is Espanyol's leading scorer this season with eight goals.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Espanyol
    18.42 %
  • Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Espanyol
    17.11 %
  • Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Espanyol
    13.16 %
Head to Head
La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ Feb 4, 2012 Athletic Bilbao 3 - Espanyol 3
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La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ Sep 11, 2011 Espanyol 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1
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La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ May 2, 2011 Espanyol 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1
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La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ Dec 12, 2010 Athletic Bilbao 2 - Espanyol 1
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La Liga ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 30, 2010 Espanyol 1 - Athletic Bilbao 0
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Last Five Matches
Athletic Bilbao
May 25, 2012Athletic Bilbao 0 - Barcelona 3ESPC
May 13, 2012Levante 3 - Athletic Bilbao 0LIGA
May 9, 2012Atletico Madrid 3 - Athletic Bilbao 0EL
May 5, 2012Athletic Bilbao 0 - Getafe 0LIGA
May 2, 2012Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3LIGA
Espanyol
May 13, 2012Espanyol 1 - Sevilla 1LIGA
May 5, 2012Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 0LIGA
May 1, 2012Ciudad de Murcia 2 - Espanyol 1LIGA
Apr 28, 2012Espanyol 0 - Sporting Gijon 3LIGA
Apr 22, 2012Atletico Madrid 3 - Espanyol 1LIGA
Team News
Available Squads
1IraizozGoalkeeper
3Jon Aurtenetxe BordeDefender
6Mikel San José DomínguezDefender
15Andoni IraolaDefender
7David LópezMidfielder
8IturraspeMidfielder
17Íñigo PérezMidfielder
24Javi MartínezMidfielder
9Fernando Llorente TorresStriker
10Óscar De MarcosMidfielder
19MuniainStriker
13Raúl Fernández MateosGoalkeeper
5AmorebietaDefender
23Borja EkizaDefender
14SusaetaMidfielder
21AnderMidfielder
2ToqueroStriker
28IbaiStriker
13Kiko CasillaGoalkeeper
3Raúl RodríguezDefender
15Héctor Alfredo MorenoDefender
18Juan Daniel ForlínDefender
22Dídac VilàDefender
10VerdúMidfielder
11RomaricMidfielder
16Javier López RodríguezDefender
17Vladimir WeissMidfielder
-CoutinhoMidfielder
6Rui FonteStriker
-EdgarGoalkeeper
14GalánDefender
-ZouDefender
7Raúl BaenaMidfielder
30Cristian GómezMidfielder
24Juan Ángel AlbínMidfielder
39Thievy BifoumStriker
-Kalu UcheStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		50 10
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		46 12
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atlético de Madrid 		24 5
Gonzalo Higuaín Gonzalo Higuaín
Striker
Real Madrid 		22 0
Karim Benzema Karim Benzema
Striker
Real Madrid 		21 0