La Liga | Gameweek 25

Feb 23, 2025 at 1pm UK

San Mames Barria

Athletic Bilbao vs Valladolid

Match preview

Athletic have enjoyed an impressive 2024-25 La Liga campaign so far, winning 12, drawing nine and losing three of their 24 games to pick up 45 points and sit in fourth place, four points clear of fifth-placed Villarreal.

Ernesto Valverde's side are only six points behind leaders Barcelona, so they are in the title race at this stage, at least on paper, but a top-four finish is a more realistic target.

Athletic have not finished fourth in La Liga since the 2013-14 season, so the stakes are high this term, and the Basque side are unbeaten in their last 15 top-flight games, their last defeat coming against Girona in early October.

However, the Lions have drawn three of their last four, including a 1-1 draw with Espanyol last time out, and the Basque side also have European football to think about, with Roma confirmed as their opponents in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Athletic have the third-best home record in La Liga this season, taking 25 points from their 12 games at home, while Real Valladolid have taken just three points from their 12 away games this term.

Real Valladolid's struggles continued last weekend when they were thrashed 4-0 at home by Sevilla, making it five defeats in a row in La Liga.

Diego Cocca was relieved of his duties after just eight games in charge, having been appointed in mid-December only to be sacked two months later, with Alvaro Rubio now in charge for the remainder of the season.

Keeping the White and Violets in the top flight is not an impossible task, but they have taken just 15 points from their 24 league games this term, thanks to a record of four wins, three draws and 17 defeats.

Real Valladolid are eight points adrift of 17th-placed Las Palmas, and with the worst attacking record in the division, scoring just 15 goals, and the worst defensive record, conceding 52 goals, it is easy to see why it has been such a difficult season.

Pucela held Athletic to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but they were thrashed 3-0 on their last visit to San Mames in the Spanish top flight.

Recent Performance

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:WWDDWD

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):LDWDWD

Real Valladolid La Liga form:WLLLLL

Team News

Athletic will be without the services of Alvaro Djalo due to an ankle problem, while Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta is expected to miss out again due to a hamstring problem.

Valverde could make one change to the side that faced Espanyol, with Nico Williams set to return to the left flank, pushing Alex Berenguer into a centre-forward role.

Mikel Vesga and Gorka Guruzeta will also be in the manager's thoughts, but both are likely to be among the substitutes from the opening whistle on Sunday.

For Real Valladolid, Marcos Andre will be available after serving a suspension, but Selim Amallah and Anuar Tuhami will miss out due to suspensions of their own.

The visitors will also be without one of their most talented players, Raul Moro, due to a collarbone injury, while Javi Sanchez is a major doubt with a muscular problem.

Darwin Machis is in line for a starting berth, possibly as a direct replacement for Tuhami, while Juanmi Latasa is likely to be replaced in the final third by the returning Andre.

Possible starting lineup

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Yeray, Boiro; Jauregizar, Prados; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Berenguer

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Hein; Perez, Aidoo, Torres, Candela; Machis, Grillitsch, Nikitscher, Martin, Aznou; Andre