Espanyol vs Athletic Bilbao – News and Probable Lineups

On Wednesday evening, Espanyol will face Athletic Bilbao at the RCDE Stadium in a crucial fixture as both teams seek to secure their standing in the La Liga season’s final phase.

Currently, Espanyol occupies the 14th spot in the La Liga standings, merely two points above the relegation area, while Athletic lies in ninth position, just one point behind Getafe, who are in seventh place.

Match overview

Remarkably, Espanyol is still in search of their first victory in 2026, having recorded 12 losses and six draws in their 18 La Liga matches this year.

The Catalan side has fallen out of European qualification contention, now sitting just two points clear of the relegation zone. Given their earlier form this season, it would be a shocking turnaround should they be demoted from La Liga.

Entering this match on the back of a 2-1 loss against Sevilla, Manolo Gonzalez’s team has suffered defeat in four of their past five matches in Spain’s top league.

Espanyol has one of the weakest home records this season, accumulating only 22 points from 17 matches, while Athletic has garnered 15 points from their 17 away encounters.

Earlier in the season, Espanyol managed a 2-1 victory over Athletic at San Mames, marking their last win in La Liga, which could serve as a positive sign for the home side.

Athletic has achieved 88 wins, recorded 70 losses, and drawn 42 times in their last 200 matches against Espanyol across all competitions, winning three of the last five encounters.

There’s no denying that Ernesto Valverde’s side has had a disappointing season, but they still have the opportunity to qualify for European competitions for the 2026-27 season.

At present, the Lions stand ninth in the La Liga table, one point behind Getafe and six points adrift of Celta Vigo in sixth place.

Athletic heads into this match after a 1-0 loss at home to Valencia, but they did secure a victory in their previous away fixture, winning 4-2 against Alaves earlier this month.

This summer will be a significant transition for the Lions, as Edin Terzic has been confirmed as the successor to Valverde, who is eager to ensure that the team clinches some form of European football for the next season.

Spanish La Liga form:

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Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

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Team News

Once again, Espanyol will be without Javi Puado due to a long-standing knee injury. Additionally, Cyril Ngonge is a significant doubt for Wednesday’s match.

Two other players from Espanyol are suspended, meaning Fernando Calero and Tyrhys Dolan will not be available to face Athletic.

Kike Garcia is anticipated to return to the attacking lineup, and Pere Milla may also step back into the starting XI.

For Athletic, Nico Williams had to be substituted due to a muscle issue in their last match against Valencia, which may jeopardize his chance to participate in the 2026 World Cup with Espanha.

Benat Prados, Aymeric Laporte, and Oihan Sancet will also undergo assessments before final decisions regarding their playing status are made.

Inaki Williams is expected to take over his brother Nico Williams’ spot in the starting lineup, and both Alex Berenguer and Unai Gomez could also feature in the offensive setup.

Espanyol probable starting XI:

Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Riedel, Cabrera, Romero; Zarate, Lozano; Sanchez, Exposito, Milla; K Garcia

Athletic Bilbao probable starting XI:

Simon; Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Boiro; Ruiz de Galarreta, Palace; I Williams, Gomez, Berenguer; the cross

It remains uncertain whether Espanyol’s winless streak will be broken before the season concludes, but backing the Catalan team to secure a victory here seems challenging, as Athletic appears sufficiently strong to at least earn a point on the road.