Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal Prediction, 10/23/2021 La Liga Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 10/21/2021

Game: Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal

Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021

Location: San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Athletic Bilbao (+156) Villarreal (+198)

San Mamés Stadium is the venue where Iker Muniain and Athletic Bilbao (3-4-1, 9th in La Liga) will play Villarreal (2-5-1, 12th in La Liga) on Saturday. The men protecting the net will be Unai Simon for Athletic Bilbao and Geronimo Rulli for Villarreal. Villarreal are priced at +198 while the Lions are at +156. The total opens at 2.25.

Athletic Bilbao played Alaves in their last match and went home with a win by a final score of 1-0. In the passing game, they finished with a 82.7% received passes rate by completing 383 of the 463 pass targets last match. Athletic Bilbao tried 14 dribbles in this outing and were able to convert 8 of the dribbles for a percentage of 57.1%.

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Concerning shot accuracy, Athletic Bilbao finished at a 26.7% rate by landing 4 SoT out of 15 total shots. Athletic Bilbao has an average of 0.75 goals per 90 min (6 goals in total) and have accumulated 6 assists in all matches this year.

Iker Muniain is a guy who should impact this matchup for Athletic Bilbao. He has totaled 26 assists while tallying 56 yellow card cautions so far in his career. Muniain has had a starting assignment in 280 outings in his career and he scores 0.18 G/90. The forward who is from Spain has accumulated 50 goals in 24,476 minutes.

Another guy who should impact this match is Inaki Williams, the forward hailing from Spain. Williams has been on the pitch for 17,526 mins in 202 starts and has been given 18 yellow card warnings. He has helped on a goal 27 times in his career while scoring 47 goals. He scores 0.24 G/90 so far in his career.

The man who is expected to protect the net for Athletic Bilbao is Unai Simon. Simon has defended the goal for a total of 7,491 minutes and is sitting with 179 stops in his career. His goals allowed per 90 mins is 1.0 (85 goals surrendered) and he holds a save % of 71.3%. The goalie from Spain has faced 254 shots tried at him in 84 starts. Simon (28-28-28 record during his soccer career) has totaled 25 clean sheets, which leaves him with a 29.8% clean sheet rate.

For their last match, Villarreal took a loss by a final score of 2-1 against Osasuna. Villarreal earned a 57.1% successful dribble rate by connecting on 8 out of the 14 dribbles they tried. They finished this game by connecting on 599 of the 670 passing attempts earning a percentage of 89.4%. Villarreal connected on 6 shots attempted out of 11 shots attempted which gave them a 54.5% clip when they last stepped onto the pitch. Having a total of 9 goals and 8 assists in all their contests, Villarreal has an average of 1.13 goals and 1.00 assist per 90 minutes.

Manu Trigueros should provide solid play for Villarreal. The midfielder representing Spain has been on the pitch for 22,712 professional minutes and he has scored 24 goals. He has accumulated 57 yellow cards thus far in his career and has assisted on a goal 26 times. He is averaging 0.10 goals per 90 mins and has been a starter in 258 games so far in his pro soccer career. You should also watch out for Gerard Moreno, the forward representing Spain. He has totaled 108 goals so far in his pro soccer career while assisting a teammate on a goal 28 times. Moreno has been handed a total of 30 yellow card warnings in 21,254 mins (238 career starts). His goals per 90 average during his pro soccer career is 0.46.

Geronimo Rulli is expected to look after the goal for Villarreal. During his professional soccer career, Geronimo Rulli has allowed 238 goals while totaling 516 stops in 183 starts. He has surrendered 1.30 goals per 90 minutes while earning a mark of 71-50-61. He has earned a save % of 69.4 and his clean sheet rate is 29.5%. Geronimo Rulli has tallied 54 shutouts and has seen 736 shots tried against him in 16,421 career mins.

Who will win tonight's La Liga game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Athletic Bilbao (+156)

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Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal Prediction, 10/23/2021 La Liga Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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