Athletic Bilbao 3/5 to beat Real Rayo Vallecano in Sunday’s La Liga contest

Competition: La Liga

Market: Athletic Bilbao win

Odds: 3/5 @ Bet 365

With their sights set on securing a remarkable European spot, Athletic Bilbao will host relegation contenders Real Rayo Vallecano at the San Mamés Barria on Sunday.

Starting with the hosts, while Athletic Bilbao might be coming off the back of a 1-0 loss away at Getafe last weekend, the mood in Gaizka Garitano’s camp will be on a high. With the chance to climb as high as sixth after flirting with the relegation zone in the first half of the season, a huge part of their late bounce has come thanks to their ongoing performances at the San Mamés Barria. Picking up back to back home victories over Levante and Atletico Madrid, Bilbao are unbeaten in their last 11 La Liga matches on home soil, a run that stems back to the 5th of November.

As for the visitors, although Rayo Vallecano may have picked up a much-needed 2-0 win over Valencia last weekend, Paco Jémez’s side still sit way down in 19th and three points adrift of La Liga safety. Along with holding the second worse defensive record in Spain’s top-tier, a huge part of their issues this season have come down to their continued struggles on the road. Now losing their last five matches away from Madrid and conceding two or more goals in each of those defeats, Vallecano look destined for another tricky afternoon on the road this weekend. Given the recent gulf in class between the two sides, we’re backing a home victory on Sunday.

Bet: Athletic Bilbao 3/5 to beat Real Rayo Vallecano in Sunday’s La Liga contest @ Bet 365