Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz. (Photo : Getty Images)
Last season's lowly finisher Real Sporting de Gijón is set to host Europa League qualifier Athletic Bilbao at their home ground of Estadio El Molinón on Sunday, August 21 for the two clubs' 2016-2017 La Liga season opening game.
Sporting Gijon had a difficult preseason, winning only once in their eight-game friendly tour. Providentially, their lone victory came in their last preseason friendly against fellow La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna, 1-1 (4-2 on penalties), also at their home stadium last Saturday, via Soccerway.
Nevertheless, it was a welcome win for head coach Abelardo Fernandez, who is now in his fourth season as Sporting Gijon manager, as his team prepares for the opening of the new Spanish top flight season.
Los Rojiblancos was almost relegated last season after they finished the term at the 17th spot of the 20-team domestic league table. They were only one point above 18th-placed Rayo Vallecano, who was the third and last team to be demoted to the Segunda Division.
Fernandez pulled off a few signings this summer and some of them are defenders Jean-Sylvain Babin and Lillo from Granada and Eibar, midfielders Moi Gomez, Diego Marino, and Xavi Torres from Villarreal, Levante, and Real Betis, and forward Duje Cop on loan from Cagliari.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao had also struggled throughout the offseason with also only one win to show in eight preseason friendlies. Their only win was a 1-0 affair with Borussia Dortmund earlier this month.
Los Leones is coming off a 2-3 loss to German club Schalke 04 at the Veltins-Arena also last Saturday as they now prepare to embark on the new La Liga season, Ghana Soccernet reported.
The team will still be coached by veteran manager Ernesto Valverde, who like Fernandez is also in his fourth season with Bilbao.
Athletic Club also has a few new additions to feature this season and they are goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Valladolid and forwards Guillermo Fernandez and Kike Sola from Leganes and Middlesbrough.
Valverde's men finished at fifth place last season, only two points short of a Champions League berth.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Athletic Bilbao.
Sporting Gijon starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Cuellar; Babin, Mere, Amorebieta, Lora; Alvarez, Rodriguez, Cases, Burgui; Castro, Cop
Athletic Bilbao starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Iraizoz; de Marcos, Boveda, Laporte, Balenziaga; San Jose, Benat; Williams, Eraso, del Moral; Aduriz
