Preview: Atalanta BC vs. Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team news, lineups

[(Atalanta BC) Strength]:
1. Atalanta BC have officially announced the signing of 25-year-old Italian forward Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid. This season, Giacomo Raspadori made 15 appearances for Atletico Madrid, contributing 2 goals and 2 assists in 424 minutes of play.
2. Atalanta BC drew 1-1 with Pisa FC in the last match, ending their winning streak. But the team remained unbeaten with 3 wins and 1 draw in their recent 4 games, showing commendable overall performances.
3. Atalanta BC recorded 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the previous 6 Champions League league phase matches. Currently positioned among the leading group in the standings, their prospects for advancing are highly optimistic.
4. Atalanta BC scored 7 goals in the last 5 home games, performing stably on offense. They almost scored in every match.
5. Atalanta BC conceded 2 goals in the last 5 games, boasting excellent defense.
6. Atalanta BC have 4 wins and 1 loss in the last 5 home games, with a high win rate of 80%.

[(Atalanta BC) Neutral]:
1. Atalanta BC ended 6 consecutive games with UNDERs in O/U, demonstrating conservative overall play.

[(Athletic Bilbao) Strength]:
1. Athletic Bilbao scored 7 goals in the last 5 games, revealing an improvement in offense compared to before.

[(Athletic Bilbao) Neutral]:
1. With a record of just 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses from their first six matches, Athletic Bilbao can no longer secure direct qualification for the Round of 16. Their only remaining hope is to clinch a spot in the knockout phase play-offs.
2. Both sides have never met before, so their mentalities would be comparable.

[(Athletic Bilbao) Weakness]:
1. This fixture marks Athletic Bilbao's third match in just nine days. Playing in multiple competitions, player fatigue has emerged as a significant concern for the squad.
2. Athletic Bilbao suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to RCD Mallorca in the last game. The team are on an 8-game winless run in regular time, indicating weak winning strength.
3. Athletic Bilbao conceded 14 goals in the last 5 games, featuring useless defense.
4. Athletic Bilbao recorded 1 win, 4 draws, and 5 losses in the last 10 away matches, with a win rate of 10%, showcasing poor away strength.
5. Athletic Bilbao failed to win in 7 consecutive games in AH, indicating underwhelming overall performances.

[Tips]:
Atalanta BC remained unbeaten with 3 wins and 1 draw recently.

With a strong record of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss after six Champions League rounds, they are firmly established in the lead group, making their prospects for qualification highly optimistic.

Their home form has been dominant, boasting an 80% win rate, with 4 wins and 1 loss over the last five matches.

Offensively, they have remained consistent with 7 goals in their last five home fixtures, while their defense has been world-class, conceding only 2 goals during that period.

Conversely, Athletic Bilbao are mired in a physical crisis, facing their third match in just nine days.

They are winless in their last eight matches in regular time, and their Champions League campaign has been underwhelming.

Despite a slight uptick in scoring, their defense is useless, conceding 14 goals in the last five games.

Furthermore, their away form is dismal, with a mere 10% win rate in their last 10 road trips.

Given Atalanta's home dominance and stable offense and defense, as well as the visitors' fatigue and defensive vulnerabilities, a home win is favored in this match.

[Recommended]:
Atalanta BC (-0.5)