Okay, so the Bilbao versus Alaves match caught my eye. Been following both teams a bit this season, and I thought, why not try and break it down myself, see where I land with a prediction? Just my own little exercise, you know.
First thing I did was just sit back and think about what I already knew, like the general vibe around the teams. Bilbao, they always seem like a tough nut to crack, especially in their own stadium, San Mamés. Proper fortress feel sometimes. Alaves, they’ve had their moments, can be gritty, but maybe not as consistent?
My Process Kinda Went Like This:
- Checking Recent Form: I pulled up the last five or six games for both. Had a look at who they played and what the scores were. Bilbao seemed to be doing alright, picking up points steadily, especially at home. Alaves looked a bit more mixed, some good results, some not so good. This already started leaning me towards Bilbao.
- Head-to-Head Record: Then I spent some time looking at their past meetings. How did Bilbao do against Alaves historically, and more importantly, recently? I noticed Bilbao often seemed to have the edge, particularly when playing at San Mamés. That felt pretty significant. Past results aren’t everything, but patterns can emerge.
- League Table Check: Quick look at the La Liga standings. Where are they sitting? What are they playing for? Bilbao seemed higher up, maybe chasing European spots. Alaves was sitting lower down, maybe safe from relegation but not really pushing for the top spots? Sometimes motivation plays a part, right?
- Home Advantage Factor: Like I thought earlier, playing at San Mamés is a big deal for Athletic Bilbao. The crowd gets behind them, and they just seem to play with more intensity there. I definitely factored this in heavily.
- Any Big News? Did a quick search for major injuries or suspensions. Didn’t find anything massive that would totally change the game for either side right away, but always worth checking if a star player is out.
Putting it Together
So, after looking at all that, here’s where my head’s at.
Bilbao’s got that strong home form, they seem to do well against Alaves historically, especially at home, and they appear to have more to play for in the league right now. Alaves can definitely cause problems, they’re no pushovers, but consistency seems to be their issue, especially away from home.
My Gut Feeling & Prediction: Based on my little dig around, I’m leaning towards a Bilbao win. I don’t expect a blowout, maybe something like a 1-0 or 2-0 victory for the home side. They seem more solid overall, and that home advantage feels key here.
Of course, this is football. Anything can happen. A red card early on, a moment of magic from an unexpected player, a defensive mistake… it could all go differently. This is just how I see it based on what I looked up and how I pieced it together. Just sharing my process, really.
