Slavia Prague – Athletic Bilbao: who will stay alive in the Champions League playoff race?
In the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League, scheduled for Tuesday, 25 November, Slavia Prague host Athletic Bilbao. Kick-off is set for 21:00 CET, and I’m offering a betting angle for this match.
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Slavia Prague – Athletic Bilbao: match facts and head-to-head
- Slavia have lost only twice in their last ten matches.
- Athletic Bilbao have won just one of their last five games and lost the other four.
- Athletic’s winless run away from home has now reached seven consecutive matches.
- Slavia have lost only once in their last ten home fixtures.
- Slavia possess the second-worst attack in the Champions League, with just two goals scored.
- Only 9% of Slavia’s matches this season have ended in a shutout defeat, compared to Athletic’s 41%.
- Athletic have won 12% of their matches without conceding; Slavia Prague have managed 32%.
- Slavia and Athletic faced each other in 2024, with the Basques coming out on top.
Slavia – Athletic Bilbao: match preview
Slavia Prague have yet to win a match in this season’s Champions League campaign. They drew with Bodo/Glimt and Atalanta, and suffered 0–3 defeats to both Inter and Arsenal. With just two points from four matches, they currently sit 30th in the table.
Athletic Bilbao are also in a difficult position, having collected only slightly more points than their opponents. The Basques lost 0–2 to Arsenal, 1–4 to Borussia Dortmund, and 0–2 to Newcastle. Their sole victory came against Qarabag, whom they beat 3–1. Three points from four games place them 27th overall.
This is a crucial fixture for both sides, with the group stage now past its midpoint. The gap to the playoff zone is not insurmountable, meaning a win is essential for both Slavia and Athletic if they want to stay in contention for the knockout rounds.
Projected lineups
- Slavia Prague: Stanek; Kristan, Chaloupek, Zima; Moses, Zafeiris, Sadilek, Mbodji; Provod, Chory, Sanyang
- Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Berchiche, Laporte, Paredes, Gorosabel; Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta; Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Guruzeta
Prediction
A pivotal match for two sides in desperate need of a victory. Neither team is particularly prolific, and with the stakes so high, I don’t expect a goal-filled contest. My recommendation is to take the total under 3.
