TIPS - Elche VS Athletic Bilbao

[(Elche CF) Strength]:
1. Elche CF are playing at home in this match and still need points to improve their standing, so their fighting spirit is unquestionable.
2. Elche CF have been strong at home, with 3 wins and 1 draw in 4 league home matches this season, remaining unbeaten and demonstrating strong home competitiveness. The team have also been effective in attack at home, scoring 6 goals in 4 matches, averaging 1.5 goals per game, and finding the net in every match, showing excellent offensive consistency and stability. Elche CF have become the formidable home powerhouses this season.

[(Elche CF) Neutral]:
1. Elche CF conceded less than 1 goal per game on average in 10 competitive matches, with 4 clean sheets.

[(Elche CF) Weakness]:
1. Elche CF forward Rafa Mir has been formally charged with sexual assault. The presiding judge in the investigation believes there is 'conclusive evidence, not just suspicion' in the case. The court has issued a formal indictment order, requiring Rafa Mir to post a 12,500 euros bail to secure his civil liability. This could significantly impact the forward's mental state. This season, Rafa Mir has played in all 8 league matches, scoring 3 goals, making him a starter in the team's attack.
2. David Affengruber received a red card in the last round and will be unavailable for this match.
3. Elche CF lost 3-1 to Alaves away in the last league match, ending their unbeaten start to the season with 3 wins and 4 draws in the first 7 rounds. This not only disrupted the team's steady momentum but also dealt a blow to their morale, revealing concerns about a recent dip in form.
4. Notably, Elche CF conceded 3 goals in their last match, setting the record for the most goals conceded in a single match this season, highlighting defensive issues that were exploited by the opponent.

[(Athletic Bilbao) Strength]:
1. Athletic Bilbao currently have 13 points and still have a chance to enter the European football zone, so their fighting spirit is unquestionable.
2. In the recent World Cup qualification(UEFA), Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon started for the Spanish national team, making his 54th appearance for the country. He has now become the player with the most appearances for the Spanish national team in Athletic Bilbao's history.
3. Athletic Bilbao secured a 2-1 home victory over Mallorca in the last league match, ending a run of 1 draw and 5 losses in 6 consecutive competitive matches and successfully halting their decline. This long-awaited win not only brought valuable three points but also greatly boosted the team's morale, indicating a gradual recovery in form.

[(Athletic Bilbao) Neutral]:
1. In the last five encounters between the two teams, Athletic Bilbao have 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, with both sides evenly matched.

[(Athletic Bilbao) Weakness]:
1. Athletic Bilbao's defensive performance has been unsatisfactory, conceding in 6 consecutive competitive matches for a total of 11 goals, averaging 1.83 goals conceded per game. The defensive organization has been loose, with weak resilience and poor defensive efficiency.
2. Athletic Bilbao's offense has also been lackluster, scoring only 4 goals in 6 matches, averaging 0.67 goals per game, with three matches failing to score. The team lack the ability to consistently create and capitalize on opportunities, showing severe instability in attack. Overall, the team struggle with imbalance between offense and defense, lacking effective coordination and tactical execution in both areas.

[Tips]:
Elche CF suffered a heavy defeat to Alaves in their last match, which was quite an upset and ended their unbeaten streak, inevitably dampening their morale.

Returning home, Elche CF are determined to prove themselves, and their fighting spirit is unquestionable.

On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao secured a 2-1 home victory over Mallorca in the previous round, getting back to winning ways.

However, Athletic Bilbao lost all four of their recent away matches, showing limited reliability.

Therefore, Elche CF are favored to remain unbeaten.

[Recommended]:
Elche CF (+0.5)