Athletic Bilbao

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Rayo Vallecano 1 - 2 Athletic Bilbao

2024-12-01 18:30 More Reports

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Round 16

Athletic Bilbaovs. Villarreal

2024-12-08 16:15:00 More Previews

Team details

Rivals	Real Sociedad, Deportivo Alaves & SD Eibar
Club Profile	Club Website Twitter: @AthleticClub Facebook: @AthleticClub Address: San Mamés Stadium, Rafael Moreno Pitxitxi, s/n, 48013 Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain Nickname: Los Leones
Stadium	Athletic Club, one of four clubs in Spanish professional football that is still considered a sports club and that is, therefore, in the control of the fans, had spent a full century at their mythical San Mamés stadium between 1913 and 2013. They build a new ground right next to the old site, also called San Mamés, and moved in in the 2013 season. Although the new ground is very different to the old one in terms of the structure and architecture, it is just as atmospheric. It could become even more atmospheric as they have plans to create singing sections behind the goals. The stadium has a capacity of 53,000 and is state-of-the-art, having even been selected to host matches at Euro 2020.
Recent History	While Athletic Club won a lot at the start of the 20th century and also had a good spell during the 1980s, they hadn’t won anything in the 21st century until claiming the Spanish Super Cup in 2015. That trophy was celebrated like wild by the club, who had reached a number of finals before then without ever getting over the line, such as the 2012 Europa League final. They are one of three clubs in LaLiga, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, to have never been relegated. Their objective in recent seasons has been to make it into Europe. They even reached the Champions League in 2014/15, while they’ve been regular participants in the Europa League.
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Season Guide

2024/2025

Athletic Bilbao

In

Andoni Gorosabel (def) Alaves; Alvaro Djalo (att) Braga

Out

Juan Artola (sp) (att) Cultural Leonesa; Imanol Garcia (sp) (def) Sparta Prague; Asier Villalibre (sp) (att) Alaves; Unai Vencedor (sp) (mid) Racing Santander; Unai Nunez (sp) (def) Celta Vigo; Dani Garcia (sp) (mid) Olympiacos; Jon Morcillo (sp) (mid) Albacete; Iker Muniain (sp) (mid) free agent; Raul Garcia (sp) (att) retirement

Athletic Club returned to winning silverware with the Copa del Rey in 2023/24, and they also secured a return to European action with a fifth-placed finish after their form dropped off following the Copa del Rey final, eliminating any hopes of a top-four finish. Coach Ernesto Valverde has slimmed down his squad, with a number of reserve players moving on, and has added quality with Andoni Gorosabel in defence and Alvaro Djalo in attack, which is likely to strengthen their starting line-up. Only champions Real Madrid conceded fewer goals in LaLiga last season, but the team's biggest strength could be their threat down the flanks with Nico Williams retained and the pace of Alvaro Djalo also brought in from Braga. The test will come in seeing whether the club's thinner squad will be able to handle the demands of competing in Europe as well as domestically. The squad's strongest XI is among Spain's best, but those in reserve lack experience in many positions. They aren't helped by a tough start to the season, with games against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before the end of August, but Valverde has proven himself as a coach who can get the best out of a team unit.

Target

Breaking into the top four. Girona will be weaker than last season, and Athletic were right on Atletico's tails to find a way into the Champions League places last year. Maintaining the core of their squad, and adding to it, should put them in pole position to move up.