Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Viktoria Plzeň’s impressive run of three wins in their last four Europa League matches has pushed them into the play-off zone. The Czech side dream of defeating Athletic in Bilbao to break into the top eight, but the Basques are expected to deliver a solid performance, addressing the mistakes from last week.
Athletic Bilbao
Last week’s 1:4 defeat away to Beşiktaş was a valuable lesson for Athletic. Despite the heavy loss, they remain near the top of the standings. In Istanbul, their aggressive attacking play left them vulnerable to counterattacks, leading to dangerous moments in their defensive third. However, at home, the Basques have been rock-solid in the Europa League, keeping clean sheets in all three matches and aiming to finish their home campaign with four wins from four.
Viktoria Plzeň
Viktoria Plzeň have been impressive on the road, avoiding defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt (3:3), PAOK (2:2), and Dynamo Kyiv (2:1). However, these matches took place in 2024. In their first match of 2025, a 2:0 victory over Anderlecht, the Czech side didn’t always look sharp, with the Belgian club generating just 0.50 xG. Manager Michal Bílek is likely to focus on maintaining a strong defensive structure in Bilbao.
Athletic Bilbao vs Viktoria Plzeň Prediction
Athletic Bilbao have been involved in only three matches with over 2.5 goals in this Europa League campaign. Viktoria Plzeň are unlikely to open up the game in Bilbao, opting instead for a cautious approach. A low-scoring match seems the most likely outcome.
