Home form and injuries will likely determine the outcome of this match and both factors clearly favor Newcastle.

The Magpies are a team that thrives at home, where most of their points this season especially in the Champions League have come in front of their fans. There will also be added motivation after their disappointing 3:1 loss to West Ham, which was one of their poorest performances of the season.

Eddie Howe will demand a strong response, and Athletic Bilbao looks like a fitting opponent for that. The visitors have struggled badly on their travels, managing just one win, one draw, and five losses away from home. To make things worse, they’re hit by several key absences Lekue (starting left-back), Prados Díaz (central midfielder), Sannadi (striker), and Williams I. (captain and winger) are all unavailable.