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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
ATHLETIC BILBAO  IraizozIraola, San Jose, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe Iturraspe, De Marcos Susaeta, Ander, Muniain Llorente | MALAGA  CaballeroSanchez, Weligton, Mathijsen, Monreal Toulalan, Cazorla Fernandez, Isco, Eliseu Rondon |
Marcelo Bielsa's side enter the contest without Javi Martinez, who will be serving a suspension. In his place, Mikel San Jose looks to get the start.
After a tough loss on Thursday against Lokomotiv Moscow, the Argentine coach may opt to rest a few players, but a full-strength side is likelier as the visitors are one of Athletic's main rivals for a higher-placed finish in the league.
For Manuel Pellegrini, Martin Demichelis is suspended while Julio Baptista and Joaquin are still recovering, the latter perhaps being fit in time for the match.
In place of the Argentine defender will likely be Weligton, who will face the tough task of containing the dangerous home attack.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Athletic Bilbao, who currently sit in ninth place in the league with 30 points, have 34 goals this term, the fourth-highest tally in La Liga.
- Entering the match, the home side have lost consecutive games, marking the first time they have done so since September 2011.
- Bielsa's club will look to avenge a 1-0 defeat to Sunday's opponents suffered in that blip earlier in the season.
- Malaga sit in seventh place in the league with 31 points despite having a negative goal differential of four.
- While finding success at home, the team have been close to horrific on the road in league play, earning only eight points from two wins and two draws in 11 contests.
- The club's last away win in the league was in November against Racing Santander.
The woes on the road will likely continue for the visitors in a daunting visit to San Mames as the home side look to get back on track after two tough defeats.
Editor's Prediction
Bilbao 2-1 Malaga 
