Villarreal have taken 13 points from the first 18 available to make their best start since the 2015-16 season
The Yellow Submarine have won seven straight home games, scoring 21 goals and conceding just five in that run
Athletic Bilbao have lost three and won nine of their last four matches, scoring just once
Yellow Submarine set for another home win
A hard-fought 2-1 success at improving Sevilla on Tuesday made it four wins and just one loss in six La Liga games for Villarreal, who will be looking to build on that strong start when hosting Athletic Bilbao on Saturday evening.
Both teams taking to the Estadio de la Ceramica pitch this weekend are playing in this season’s Champions League but only the Yellow Submarine have made a strong enough start to suggest they will be back at Europe’s table next term.
Bilbao did open with three wins but have since lost three of their last four, most recently being held to a home draw by basement boys Girona on Tuesday.
Ailing Athletic could be outclassed in Villarreal
Bilbao need to bounce back to form but Villarreal is hardly the place to do so, with Marcelino’s men scoring 21 goals while winning each of their last seven home games.
Nico Williams’ injury has left Athletic without a creative spark and having scored just one goal in their last four matches, it is hard to see them finding much joy on Saturday.
