Bilbao vs Osasuna Prediction 16 January 2025

🔊 What reaction will Athletic have following their recent setback in the Super Cup? One of the matches on Friday's Copa del Rey schedule will be the clash between the "Basques" and the "Reds." Osasuna is currently not in their best form, so success in the upcoming match could reboot the team from Pamplona. The referee team, led by Mateo Busquets, will be officiating. It's important to look at the preliminary bookmaker predictions: Athletic's win - 1.55, Osasuna's victory - 6.5.

📊 H2H

This season, the clubs have already faced each other in La Liga. In the December match at "El Sadar," the victory went to the team from the Basque Country (2:1). Note: In the last 4 head-to-head meetings, it was the "Lions" who celebrated success.

🔴 ATHLETIC

Athletic performed poorly in the recently concluded Spanish Super Cup. In the semifinal match, the "Basques" were weaker than Catalan Barcelona (0:2). This defeat was the first for Ernesto Valverde's team in 3 months. However, it's worth noting that at their home "San Mamés," the "Lions" are unbeaten in 10 matches (since August 2024). During the current Copa del Rey campaign, the reigning tournament champions managed to upset Logroñés (1:0 after penalties) in the round of 16. The most prolific players for the "Red and Whites" across all competitions this season are Iñaki Williams (8+6), Gorka Guruzeta (6+4), and Oihan Sancet (8+2).

🔵 OSASUNA

Vicente Moreno and company are still unable to secure a long-awaited victory in the championship. Over the last 7 rounds, the "Reds" have consistently shared points with their opponents. This has resulted in the Pamplona club settling for only 11th place in the La Liga standings. However, in the national cup, Osasuna is performing quite confidently. On their way to the round of 16, thanks to the efforts of the "Reds," they knocked out Chiclana (5:0), Ceuta (3:2), and Tenerife (2:1) from the tournament. Key players for the team this season are Ante Budimir (11+1), Bryan Zaragoza (1+5), and Rubén García (2+3).

⚽️ GOAL PREDICTION

From match to match, Athletic prefers to focus on defending their own goal rather than playing a spectacular attacking game. On average, the "Lions" concede about 0.8 goals per match. And in 5 of the last 6 matches involving the Basque club, no more than two goals were scored. It's also worth noting that the average goal tally in head-to-head clashes is 2.2 goals. Our choice is total under 2.5 goals.

📝 MATCH PREDICTION

Ernesto Valverde and company are extremely effective in matches at "San Mamés." Furthermore, it is the "Lions" who maintain their status as one of the most organized teams in the league. Strict adherence to coaching ideas, as well as phenomenal dedication, allow the "Red and Whites" to stay afloat. Our editorial team predicts a final score of 2:0. The key bet is Athletic's win.