Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz. (Photo : Getty Images)
Newly-promoted side CD Leganes (4-9-4, 16 points) is set to host mercurial team Athletic Bilbao (8-6-3, 27 points) at their home field of Butarque Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 14 as round 18 competitions of the 2016-2017 La Liga season commences.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:00 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Leganes, who finished as runners-up in the Segunda Division last season, has been reeling as of late with five straight winless games. The team is currently in the 16th spot of the Spanish top flight table, only four points above the bottom three relegation area presently occupied by Sporting Gijon, Granada, and Osasuna.
Los Pepineros is coming off a 0-2 defeat in the hands of lowly club Real Betis on the road at the Benito Villamarín Stadium last Sunday, as per Sofa Score.
Head coach Asier Garitano's squad was not able to score any goals throughout the contest while conceding two to the Béticos, courtesy of goals by Spanish forward Ruben Castro and Italian defender Cristiano Piccini in the 51st and 85th minutes respectively.
The game was scoreless in the entire first half as the two sides' defenses were able to hold on.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao is on a two-game unbeaten run after settling to a 0-0 draw with another newly-promoted club, Alaves, at their home ground of San Mamés Stadium also last Sunday, via SkySports.
Los Leones has been undefeated in four of their last six outings to remain in the seventh place in the overall standings, two points behind sixth-running team Real Sociedad, who currently holds the second and final Europa League qualifying berth for next season.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 2-0 romp by Athletic Bilbao.
Leganes starting lineup (5-4-1 formation): Champagne; Insua, Mantovani, Marin, Bustinza, Diaz; Martin, Machis, Timor, Lopez; Guerrero
Athletic Bilbao starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Arrizabalaga; Balenziaga, Laporte, Elustondo, Etxeita; Muniain, Garcia; Rico, Susaeta, Benat; Aduriz
