Athletic Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose. (Photo : Getty Images)
A high-profile 2015-2016 La Liga matchup between contending teams Athletic Bilbao (16-12-7, 55 points) and Celta de Vigo (16-10-9, 57 points) is set to be held at the San Mamés Stadium on Sunday, May 1st as the current season comes down to its final few matchdays.
Athletic Club is at the sixth spot of the current league table and holding a slot in the Europa League tournament next season. They are six points behind the final Champions League qualifying berth held by Villarreal CF and the team can still snag it if they will be able to win their last three matches of the season while the Yellow Submarine loses theirs.
Their most recent Spanish top flight match resulted in a 2-2 draw with bottom-dwelling team Levante UD at the Estadi Ciutat de València last Sunday, as per ESPN.
Les Granotes drew first blood in the contest with a 13th minute strike from forward Victor Casadesus. The second goal took a while for the hosts but it came as an own goal from Los Leones defender Xabier Etxeita at the 68th.
With the game seemingly lost for Athletic, manager Ernesto Valverde's boys were able to score two goals late at the 88th and 90th+1 minutes to tie the count and salvage a share of a point in the overall standings. The draw was the second straight winless effort for Bilbao.
Meanwhile, Celta Vigo nipped lowly team Granada CF, 2-1, at their home ground of Estadio Municipal de Balaídos on Monday, as reported by Daily Mail Online.
Os Célticos striker Iago Aspas netted the opening goal with a penalty kick at the 16th minute and Granada forward Youssef El-Arabi equalized the game at the 69th. Aspas scored another one at the 76th, though, to extend his team's undefeated streak to seven games.
Head coach Eduardo Berizzo's squad is now at the fifth spot of the league table, four points below Villarreal.
The predicted result is a tough 2-1 victory for Athletic Bilbao.
Athletic Bilbao starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Iraizoz; Boveda, San Jose, Etxeita, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe; Williams, Garcia, Muniain; Viguera
Celta Vigo starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Blanco; Mallo, Cabral, Gomez, Planas; Hernandez, Diaz; Aspas, Orellana, Nolito; Guidetti
