Sparta Praha (Prague) v Athletic Bilbao predictions

Sparta Praha (Prague) v Athletic Club Bilbao predictions and preview: Betting stats and facts

Team News and Run of play

Both Sparta Prague and Athletic Club are expected to field their best available lineups. At least they both fielded close to their best team in the first fixture of the Europa League. In my opinion this is a very interesting game. Sparta Prague are defensively usually very solid, and are good on the ball. They have been runner up the last two seasons in the domestic league, and the year before they were champions. This is club has plenty of tradition and silver ware. They have a good mix of young and old players in the squad, and some genuine talent up front in 20 years old Kadlec and 21 year old Albanian Balaj. Sparta Praha. In the last Europa League qualifier the team also showed good composure and tactical abilities against Feyenoord. Sparta Prague won 2-0 at home, and followed up this result with 2-2 in Holland.

Athletic Club with "El Loco" on the bench are unpredictable to say the least. In their best moments they are world beaters, in their worst they resemble headless chickens ready for a slaughter. Javi Martínez was sold in the transfer window, and it looks like he is greatly missed in midfield. Especially now when Ander Herrera also is out injured. Offensively speaking Athletic Club are the real deal. Llorente have been coming off the bench a lot as of late, and have been really good. They brought in experienced Aduriz from Valencia, and he has already notched three goals in five Primera starts in a Bilbao shirt. Add to this extremely talented and forward thinking players such as Muniain and Susaeta.

I am sure Sparta Praha will rely on their defensive capabilities and hit on the break. Czech sides have been excellent at this since I can remember, and I am sure they can master this strategy yet again. They will however have to improve greatly on the performance they showed in Lyon. They had a bad night, but the home side produced way to many chances for my liking. Against a fast paced, attacking side like Athletic Bilbao that smells like trouble. They will try to deny Athletic Club too let their offensive stars have a party on their own half. Probably Athletic Club will be allowed over 55% possession. The more they can keep this possession on Sparta Prague's half the better chances they have. This is the key in this game as I see it. Sparta has some good midfield battlers in young Husbauer who was in the Czech World cup qualifier squad vs Denmark and also young Pavelka who is another talent. They can also call on veteran MatÄ›jovský need be. He can play in any of the central midfield positions.

Sparta Praha (Prague) - Athletic Club Bilbao predictions: 1X2 preview

For me this looks like a game that Athletic Bilbao should win. They will get plenty of chances to convert. Sparta Prague haven't been on-form lately (Excluding the performance against Feyenoord) and look like a side in the middle of a revamp. Against this Bilbao side they can't afford to be off their toes for one minute. They will get punished instantly. In many ways it looks like the perfect way for the young central players on Sparta Prague to get a lesson worth learning, and when they fail the defence doesn't look to hard to unlock for offensive quality players. I took 2.25 at Stan James, and I think this odds may drop closer to the start.

If you agree with my reasoning, take 2.25 (5/4) with the reputable Stan James here.

Sparta Praha (Prague) - Athletic Club Bilbao predictions: Asian Handicap preview

I am not going to go for a wide handicap. Athletic Club has been leaking too many goals for that. They are of course capable of winning this game with a wide margin, but why gamble? Let's keep things nice and simple. I think I will go for a very narrow -0.25 Asian Handicap here. I can actually get 1.94 with Betfair now, and that tempt me a lot. It looks like a good value play to me. In other words: Here we go.

If you want to take the -0.25 Asian Handicap priced at 1.94 with Betfair you can take it here.

Sparta Praha (Prague) v Athletic Club Bilbao predictions: Total Goals preview

Given this analysis, I can't really find many arguments against taking over 2.5 goals. I am very surprised to see odds over 2.00 in the market. I guess this is based on algorithms weighing in Europa Cup averages etc. After all, there are so many things going for a high scoring evening. I would say it has to be a relatively clear favorite. I just took 2.06 with Pinnacle Sports, and I think it is a really good bet.

If you agree with me: You can still get 2.06 on over 2.5 goals with Pinnacle sports here.

Sparta Praha (Prague) v Athletic Club Bilbao predictions and preview

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