Against All Odds: Bilbao to finish with a flourish

 

Zaragoza are odds-on for their Spanish Primera Division clash with Athletic Bilbao this evening but Paul Robinson thinks that those who tune in to Sky Sports Interactive at 18:00 could be in for a surprise result.

 

Real Zaragoza have climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to two wins and a draw in their last three. They recorded back to back victories at home over Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano before earning a point at Levante last time. That run came just at the right time and it ended an incredible spell of 15 without victory.

 

Now that Manolo Jiménez's side are clear of the drop zone it will be interesting to see if they still play with the same intensity and desire that they did in their last two at La Romareda. It's hard to ignore their dreadful form in 2013 and they aren't at full strength due to injuries and suspensions - the loss of Glenn Loovens in particular being a blow.

 

Athletic Bilbao haven't been able to hit the dizzy heights of last season where they reached the Europa League final and came a respectable 10th in La Liga. They just haven't been able to score the goals that they did last term and even Fernando Llorente has only managed four in all competitions.

 

Nevertheless, Marcelo Bielsa's men are four unbeaten and they won their previous match last weekend. The Lions are in 14th place so with just three games to go they don't have anything to play for as such, although given their poor season thus far, they'll at least want to finish on a high. They've drawn their last two away from San Mamés Stadium and they should have enough quality to keep that undefeated record going today.

 

Zaragoza are very short for a team in their predicament, so at around the 1.86 mark, I have to make them my lay of the day.

 

Recommended Bet

Lay Zaragoza v Athletic Bilbao @ 1.86

 

Bet HERE

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