VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain (Interstat) — The Basque Country rivalry will resume Saturday when Deportivo Alaves hosts Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga match at Mendizorroza Stadium. Both teams enter the contest with contrasting recent form and a projected tight result.

Athletic Bilbao comes in off a 1-0 home win over Osasuna on April 21. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak during which the club fell 2-1 to Villarreal and 2-0 at Getafe. Over their past seven matches, Athletic has posted three wins, two losses and two draws, including a 2-1 win at Real Betis and a 2-1 win over Elche.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-1 victory for the visiting side.

Deportivo Alaves most recently lost 2-1 at Real Madrid on April 21, a match that ended a three-game unbeaten run. Before that, Alaves drew 3-3 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 with Osasuna, and recorded a 4-3 win at Celta Vigo. The club has struggled for consistency, however, with losses to Valencia, Granada and Levante over the past two months. Alaves has not won consecutive matches since early February.

The teams last met Sept. 13, when Alaves won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao. That result ended a run of three consecutive Athletic wins in the rivalry, including two shutouts.

Saturday’s match carries importance for both sides’ positioning in the congested La Liga table.

Following this contest, Athletic Bilbao hosts Valencia on May 10, then travels to Espanyol on May 13. Deportivo Alaves visits Elche on May 9 and returns home to host Barcelona on May 13.

Kickoff is set for late afternoon local time.