Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams. (Photo : Getty Images)
Streaking squad Malaga CF (10-11-11, 41 points) is looking to end their 2015-2016 La Liga season campaign on a high note as they meet with contending team Athletic Bilbao (15-11-6, 51 points) at the La Rosaleda Stadium this Sunday, April 17th.
Malaga had been unbeaten in eight of their last 10 matches to climb up to the eighth spot of the current league table. Although the team is a long 19 points away from the final Champions League berth currently held by fourth-placed squad Villarreal CF, they are also comfortably 13 points adrift of the bottom three relegation zone.
In their most recent game, Los Boquerones settled with a goalless draw against lowly club Granada CF in Andalusian derby held at the Estadio Los Carmenes on April 8th, as per Goal.
Croatian striker Duje Cop had a good chance to score right in the opening minutes of the match, but his header was effectively saved by El Graná goalkeeper Andres Fernandez off a cross by Uruguayan midfielder Chory Castro.
It was an evenly-fought match from there as the two teams settled for a share of a point in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao nipped another lowly team, Rayo Vallecano, 1-0, at their home ground of San Mamés Stadium last Sunday, as reported by ESPN.
Spanish forward Iñaki Williams provided the lone goal of the contest at the 61st minute to give manager Ernesto Valverde's side their fourth win in their last six outings, which snapped the team's two-game winless skid. Williams had to be substituted three minutes later, though, as he suffered an injury.
The win was a refreshing one for Los Leones as it also snapped a two-game losing slide in the Europa League to Valencia and Sevilla respectively. It also made them climb up to the sixth spot while Sevilla dropped to seventh place in the Spanish top flight table after the latter suffered three consecutive losses.
The predicted result is a tough 1-0 victory for Athletic Bilbao.
Malaga starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Ochoa; Rosales, Albentosa, Weligton, Ricca; Juanpi, Recio, Camacho, Castro; Santa Cruz, Cop
Athletic Bilbao starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Iraizoz; de Marcos, Boveda, Etxeita, Lekue; Rico, Iturraspe; del Moral, Garcia, Muniain; Williams
