A key battle in the race for top six spots in the La Liga table will take place at El Madrigal on Saturday, as Villarreal host Athletic Bilbao.

The seventh-placed hosts currently sit one place and one point better off than their visitors while they come into the game on the back of a victory over Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Match preview

After an underwhelming first half to the season, Villarreal bounced back to put themselves in a strong position for a high finish in La Liga, as they picked up nine wins and 29 points from a span of 13 league games between mid-December and mid-March.

However, their hopes of a top-six finish took a major hit recently, as Unai Emery's side have suffered defeats in each of their last two La Liga outings, firstly falling to relegation-threatened Cadiz as Ruben Sobrino hit the only goal of the game in the dying embers.

Following a damning 2-0 defeat to basement side Levante, the Yellow Submarine headed into the first leg of their tricky Champions League quarter-final meeting with Bayern Munich on home turf, and they took a somewhat surprising advantage, as Arnaut Danjuma hit the only goal of the game in Spain inside the first 10 minutes.

While they will know they have plenty more work to do in that tie to progress, with a trip to Bavaria looming, that result should at least raise confidence in the camp following a hard-fought win over the German champions and 2020 Champions League winners after two poor showings in La Liga.

Now turning their focus back to the Spanish top flight, Emery's men will aim to move further clear of their visitors and cut the six-point gap between themselves and sixth-placed Real Sociedad with a home victory at the weekend.

Athletic Bilbao make the trip aiming to leapfrog their opponents after an important victory in their push for the top six.

While Marcelino's men have impressed at various points throughout the season, they have often struggled for consistency and went into a recent meeting with Elche having lost two and won one of their previous four league outings.

They were able to return to winning ways, though, as Alex Berenguer and Asier Villalibre got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win on home turf, with Josan's late goal for the visitors not enough to salvage a result.

That win saw the Basque outfit move back within a point of Saturday's opponents and seven points behind the top six with eight games to play, and they will now be keen to establish a winning run to boost their claim for continental qualification.

Team News

Villarreal will remain without Alberto Moreno due to an injury, while Boulaye Dia was also ruled out of the Bayern Munich clash, although exciting winger Samu Chukwueze was fit to feature off the bench after a scare of his own.

Arnaut Danjuma added to his impressive season with the only goal in that match, and he will continue to lead the line, now boasting 14 goals and four assists in 29 appearances across La Liga and Champions League action this term.

He will likely be joined by Spanish international Gerard Moreno, while the likes of Dani Parejo, Francis Coquelin, Etienne Capoue and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Giovani Lo Celso will battle for spots in midfield.

Key Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez will remain sidelined through injury, while Dani Garcia may also continue to miss out alongside Inigo Lekue.

However, they will welcome Yeray Alvarez back from a suspension, easing Marcelino's defensive issues slightly.

Alex Berenguer will continue to operate on the wing after his goal last time out, with talismanic captain Iker Muniain likely playing on the opposite flank and Inaki Williams leading the line.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan; Pino, Parejo, Lo Celso, Chukwueze; Moreno, Danjuma

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, Berchiche; Berenguer, Vencedor, Vesga, Muniain; Sancet, Williams

We say: Villarreal 2-1 Athletic Bilbao

The Yellow Submarine will be full of confidence after their impressive victory in midweek, and we fancy them to take all three points in Saturday's six-pointer given the quality they boast throughout the pitch.

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