Athletic Club vs. Leganes Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 26 January 2025

Athletic Club hosts Leganes at San Mames on 26 January 2025 at 17:30, in a crucial LaLiga clash. Athletic Club sits in 4th place in the standings with 39 points, vying to overtake Barcelona for 3rd place.

Despite their strong home form, winning 21 points from 10 matches, Athletic Club faces challenges with top scorer Oihan Sancet injured. Alex Berenguer has stepped up recently, and they have scored in all but one home match this season. Meanwhile, Leganes are unbeaten in their last four matches and have recently defeated both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Match tips suggest considering a draw at odds of 5. Fatigue might affect Bilbao’s performance following their midweek Europa League match against Besiktas.

Referee Alejandro Hernandez will oversee a match expected to be intense, given Leganes’ recent form and Bilbao’s home strength.

Athletic Club vs Leganes Prediction & Betting Tip

With the matches having been tightly contested, the recommendation is to consider a draw at odds of 5. This prediction draws on both teams’ recent form and the potential fatigue factor for Athletic Club.

• Athletic Club has been strong at home but may face fatigue after a midweek match.
• Leganes have shown resilience, remaining unbeaten in their last four games.
• Referee Alejandro Hernandez tends to be involved in intense matches, which could influence a more balanced outcome.

Athletic Club vs Leganes Odds

Athletic Club is strongly favoured by bookmakers, with odds of 1.36 for a home win. The odds reflect their strong home form and higher league standing, currently in 4th place. However, if you’re looking for a riskier bet, a draw is offered at 4.70, noting Leganes’ recent upsets against top teams like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. An away win for Leganes stands at a lucrative 9.15, reflecting their position in 15th place but also acknowledging that upsets do happen.

Don’t forget, recommended odds can change as the match draws nearer!

Athletic Club Team Analysis

Athletic Club Recent Performance

Athletic Club’s recent form has been a mixed bag with two wins, including a thrilling penalty shootout in the Copa del Rey, and three losses. Their average of 1.8 goals scored per game shows they can find the net, but with no clean sheets in their last five matches, defensive frailties are evident.

Their top goalscorer, Oihan Sancet, is injured, putting additional pressure on Alex Berenguer, who has been stepping up recently.

The team sits fourth in LaLiga, six points ahead of Villarreal, largely owing to their home form, having secured 21 points from 10 home matches.

Athletic Club Key Players

Athletic Club will miss their top scorer Oihan Sancet due to injury, which makes Alex Berenguer a crucial player. Berenguer has been rising to the occasion, scoring in recent games. Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta also shoulder the attacking burden.
Mikel Jauregizar, subject to transfer interest from Real Madrid, is another influential midfielder, known for his ball recovery and passing precision.
Expected lineup for Athletic Club:

• Goalkeeper: Unai Simón
• Defenders: Andoni Gorosabel, Daniel Vivian, Yeray Álvarez, Yuri Berchiche
• Midfielders: Beñat Prados, Mikel Jauregizar, Iñaki Williams, Alejandro Berenguer Remiro, Nico Williams
• Forward: Gorka Guruzeta

Athletic Club Suspensions & Injuries

Athletic Club faces a significant challenge with two key players sidelined due to injuries. Here’s the update on their current injury situation:

The absence of top scorer Oihan Sancet is a major blow, potentially affecting the team’s attacking prowess. With 7 goals this season, his presence on the field will be sorely missed.
Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta’s muscle injury also deprives the midfield of depth and experience. Ernesto Valverde will need to rely on the bench for replacements, challenging the squad’s overall stability.

Athletic Club Tactics and Formation

Athletic Club Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Assumed Line-up:
  • Goalkeeper: Unai Simón
  • Defenders:
    • Right back: Andoni Gorosabel
    • Center backs: Daniel Vivian, Yeray Álvarez
    • Left back: Yuri Berchiche
  • Midfield Duo: Beñat Prados, Mikel Jauregizar
  • Attacking Midfield: Alejandro Berenguer Remiro
  • Wingers: Iñaki Williams (Right), Nico Williams (Left)
  • Forward: Gorka Guruzeta

Athletic Club will likely maintain their reliable 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing defensive stability and countering swiftly through their pacy wingers. Despite the absence of their top goalscorer, Oihan Sancet, the team can still rely on the attacking prowess of Nico and Iñaki Williams, with Alex Berenguer serving as a versatile playmaker in the central role.

• Defensive Strength: Despite failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five games, the solidity from center backs Daniel Vivian and Yeray Álvarez is critical.
• Notable Strategy: Expect a high press to disrupt Leganes’ build-up play and quick transitions from defense to attack, crafted to exploit the wings’ speed.

Leganes Team Analysis

Leganes Recent Performance

Leganes have shown solid form in their last five matches, chalking up three wins, one draw, and one loss.
Their recent performances are summarized below:

Leganes have averaged 1.80 goals scored per game over these five matches, showcasing their offensive capabilities. However, they have managed to keep only one clean sheet, indicating a tendency to concede. They sit in 15th position with 22 points, crucially needing to build on this form to climb the La Liga table.

Leganes Key Players

Leganes will rely heavily on Juan Cruz, their top scorer with four goals this season, to provide the offensive spark. His ability to exploit defensive gaps will be crucial against Athletic Club.

Expected lineup for Leganes:

• Goalkeeper: Marko Dmitrovic
• Defenders: Valentin Rosier, Sergio González, Matija Nastasic, Javi Hernández
• Midfielders: Seydouba Cissé, Óscar Rodríguez Arnaiz, Yvan Neyou
• Attackers: Daniel Raba, Miguel de la Fuente, Juan Cruz

Key individual battles include Juan Cruz against Athletic Club’s solid center-back pairing of Daniel Vivian and Yeray Álvarez. Another crucial contest will be in the midfield, where Óscar Rodríguez Arnaiz’s creativity will face off against Beñat Prados and Mikel Jauregizar.

With Enric Franquesa and Renato Tapia out due to injuries, other players will need to step up, especially in defense.

Leganes Suspensions & Injuries

Leganes are facing significant injury setbacks heading into this fixture. Enric Franquesa, a crucial component in their defensive setup, is out for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury. This long-term absence has forced changes in their backline.

Renato Tapia, normally a key figure in midfield stability, is sidelined with a calf injury and is expected to return in mid-February. His absence will likely place additional pressure on the remaining midfielders to maintain control and cohesion in the centre of the park.

Leganes Tactics and Formation

Leganes Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Miguel de la Fuente
• Midfield Trio: Seydouba Cissé, Oscar Rodríguez Arnaiz, Yvan Neyou
• Defensive Strength: Conceded 1.4 goals on average this season.
• Notable Strategy: Prone to conceding most goals in the 76-90 minute interval, a weakness to be wary of.

Under Borja Jiménez, Leganes employ a balanced 4-3-3, focusing on a solid midfield trio to control the game. The absence of Renato Tapia impacts their midfield cohesion, placing more responsibility on Cissé and Neyou.

Expect a forward thrust led by Miguel de la Fuente, while Juan Cruz plays a critical role on the left. Leganes’ defensive line, without Enric Franquesa, will be tested but aims to stay compact. The key will be to maintain resilience, especially late in the game.

Athletic Club vs Leganes Head-to-Head Statistics

The last five meetings between Athletic Club and Leganes have shown mixed results, with three of those matches ending in a draw.

Though Athletic Club currently holds the higher league position, Leganes have proven themselves capable of pulling off upsets. Their last win against Athletic Club at San Mames should give them a psychological boost. The key stat here is that three out of the five games ended in a deadlock, highlighting that this fixture often produces tight contests.

Odds accurate as of 24.01.2025 17:31, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.