Athletic Bilbao – Sporting

When the floodlights come on over San Mamés and the iconic Champions League anthem fills the darkness before kick-off, the home fans know what they have, but not what they will get. Because unlike today's opponent, who have already secured promotion, it could all stop here for Athletic Bilbao. Why would they dare go for three points, when one point might be enough?

Athletic Bilbao – safety first?

Bilbao have had a CL journey this season where they have surprised on several occasions. Losses against Arsenal, Dortmund and Newcastle were perhaps as expected, but a point gap with PSG and an away win against Atalanta means they are still in contention.

The question now is whether Ernesto Valverde's men dare to go for three points, or whether they will wait and see how the rest of the matches develop. They are on safe ground thanks to a better goal difference than Napoli and Copenhagen, and both Club Brugge, Bodø/Glimt and Benfica can catch up with them with a win. But what all of them have in common is that they will face very tough matches, against Chelsea, Barcelona, ​​Marseille, Atl.Madrid and Real Madrid respectively. So is it possible that the plan is to close the gap and only risk something if the opportunity arises?

Sporting – everything to win, nothing to lose

For Sporting, the hardest part is done. Promotion is assured, and they are also guaranteed a home match in the second leg of the knockout round if that's where they end up. The teams from 17th to 24th place must start at home, and only Galatasaray and Qarabag can, in theory, catch up with Sporting. But then an awful lot will go against the lions from Lisbon.

And for a team that is about to fall behind in the race for the league title at home in Portugal, it's nice and great to finish on home soil, but it would have been even nicer if they didn't have to play the knockout round at all. And there's a good chance they will if they win here.

This year's CL season has been impressive, and the victory against PSG in particular remains a highlight. Suarez, Trincao, Araujo, Catamo and the rest of the offensive arsenal are overflowing with speed, technique and creativity, and against a Bilbao team that may let the visitors take control, it could be fun to be a Portuguese in the stands.

Conclusion – the fight for Europe

Bilbao will throw themselves into every duel, as they have done all year. No one has won the ball more often, and no team has created more free kicks than today's home team. So a game in that direction is considered. But even though Sporting have only created three corners on average, they have created 6.84 corners on average in the domestic league. And if they manage to seize the field play, against a team that is low, the line can be quickly crossed.

For the aforementioned line is set surprisingly low. Bilbao gives away 4.19 corners in La Liga, and against a team that will attack from the start it is tempting to put your money there. For attacking play gives corners, especially against teams that defend deep and compactly, and therefore we try the following bet,

Champions League at 21:00: Athletic Bilbao – Sporting: Over 3.5 corners to Sporting (1.73)