The Spanish First Division (La Liga) sees a marquee match on Monday, as the feisty Athletic Bilbao Party will host Renault Vallecano. Athletic Bilbao has won three consecutive matches in all competitions in the past and gained a valuable point against Renault Vallecano. The 1-1 draw extended Athletic Bilbao's unbeaten streak to five matches, with their last loss coming on Oct. 22 against defending champions Barcelona by a 1-0 score. Currently, Athletic Bilbao are in fifth place with 25 points after 14 matches with seven wins, four draws and three losses. There is currently a six-point gap between Athletic Bilbao and fourth-placed Barcelona, with the top four teams starting to pull away. However, Ernesto Valverde's side expect to be firmly in the hunt for Europa League qualification this season and are determined to get back to winning ways in this fixture.
Athletic Bilbao have lost just one league game at home this season, which came against Real Madrid in the opening week, but they have won four and drawn two of their six home games since then. The Basque side are also unbeaten in their last three league showdowns with Renault Vallecano, including a 3-2 victory in the same clash last season.
Renovale Cano have proved they are not easy to beat in La Liga this season, losing just three of their 14 matches, but they have drawn seven, which ties them with Getafe and Mallorca for the most draws in the league. The capital side have amassed 19 points from 14 matches in 2023-24 and are currently level with eighth-placed Getafe in tenth place, and they are five points adrift of seventh-placed Real Betis. Renault Vallecano finished eleventh in La Liga last season, but they will be hoping for a top-ten finish this season, especially as their recent results will have boosted their confidence, having drawn their last three matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona. Renault Vallecano have endured tough matchups against the top four teams in La Liga in their last three matches, losing at home against Girona on November 11, and their last win was a 1-0 victory against Las Palmas on October 22nd.
