Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction, 12/22/2020 La Liga Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 12/21/2020

Game: Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao

Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Location: Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal, Spain

TV: Fanatiz USA

Odds/Point Spread: Villarreal (+106) Athletic Bilbao (+290)

Estadio de la Cerámica is the site where Samuel Chukwueze and Villarreal (6-7-1, 4th in La Liga) will take on Athletic Bilbao (5-2-7, 10th in La Liga) on Tuesday. The expected starting goalies will be Sergio Asenjo for Villarreal and Unai Simon for Athletic Bilbao. The line on this contest has Villarreal priced at +106 and the Lions are at +290. The O/U is set at 2.25.

Villarreal faced Osasuna in their most recent game and walked away with a win by a score of 3-1. Villarreal attempted 13 dribbles in this match and were successful in 9 of the dribbles for a rate of 69.2%. In the passing game, they had a 88.2% passes received percentage by connecting on 560 of the 635 pass attempts in their last game. Concerning shot accuracy, Villarreal finished the game at a 53.8% clip by landing 7 shots on target of 13 total shots. Villarreal has an average of 1.36 goals per 90 (19 total goals) and have earned 10 assists in all games for this campaign.

Samuel Chukwueze is a player who should be able to impact this match for Villarreal. He has totaled 5 assists while accumulating 4 yellow card cautions during his soccer career. Chukwueze has had a starting assignment in 45 outings thus far in his career and scores 0.19 goals per 90 minutes. The forward from Nigeria has totaled 9 goals scored in 4,354 mins. Another player who should impact this match is Gerard Moreno, the forward born in Spain. He has assisted on a goal 22 times thus far in his career while scoring 92 goals. Moreno has played 19,265 mins during 216 starting assignments and has earned himself a total of 27 yellow cards. He currently averages 0.43 goals per 90 mins during his pro soccer career.

The guy defending the goal for Villarreal will be Sergio Asenjo. Asenjo (104-73-91 mark in his career) has 87 clean sheets, which has earned him a 32.3% clean sheet rate. The keeper from Spain has had 1,130 shots tried against him in 269 career starts. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.19 (318 goals allowed) and he holds a save percentage of .731. Asenjo has seen the pitch for 24,037 mins and has earned 831 saves so far in his pro soccer career.

In their last game, Athletic Bilbao got the victory with a final of 2-0 against Huesca. They finished the contest by converting 456 out of their 507 passes they tried earning a percentage of 89.9%. Athletic Bilbao earned a 60.0% successful dribble percentage by completing 9 out of the 15 dribbles they pursued. Athletic Bilbao converted 2 shots attempted out of their 10 shots attempted which had them at a 20.0% clip when they last took the field. With 16 goals and 10 assists in all their games, Athletic Bilbao is averaging 1.14 goals and 0.71 assists per 90 min.

Inaki Williams should provide a lift for Athletic Bilbao. The forward representing Spain has played 15,533 professional minutes and he has scored 41 goals. He has tallied 18 yellow cards during his career and has helped a teammate on a goal 21 times. He is averaging 0.24 G/90 and has had a starting assignment in 181 matches in his career. Make sure to keep an eye out for Unai Lopez, the midfielder representing Spain. Lopez has earned himself 36 yellow cards in 11,323 mins played (132 career starts). His goals per 90 minute average in his career is 0.08. He has accumulated 10 goals so far in his career while assisting on a goal 12 times.

Unai Simon is expected to look after the goal for Athletic Bilbao. So far in his pro soccer career, Simon has allowed 59 goals while earning 115 stops in 55 starts. He has given up 1.09 goals per 90 and he has earned a mark of 19-15-21. He is the owner of a save % of .701 and his shutout rate sits at 27.3%. Simon has totaled 15 shutouts while seeing 164 shots attempted against him in 4,881 career mins.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Athletic Bilbao (+290)

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Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction, 12/22/2020 La Liga Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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