Alavés vs Athletic Bilbao – News and Probable Lineups

On Saturday, two teams facing critical situations in the closing moments of the 2025-26 La Liga season will go head-to-head, as Alaves hosts Athletic Bilbao at Mendizorrotza Stadium.

Currently, Alaves ranks 16th in the La Liga standings, holding a two-point cushion above 18th-placed Sevilla, while Athletic sits in 10th place, three points away from sixth-placed Getafe in the quest for European competition.

Match overview

Alaves achieved a significant victory against fellow relegation contenders Mallorca in their last match, securing a 2-1 win that propelled them to 16th place, just two points clear of the relegation zone.

The Blue and Whites still have work to do to ensure their La Liga survival for the next season, but they have only lost one of their last six matches, indicating a positive trend.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ squad has an intriguing end to the campaign ahead, facing Elche, Barcelona, Real Oviedo, and Rayo Vallecano, meaning a lot could change in the upcoming weeks.

This season, Alaves has performed reasonably well at home, accumulating 24 points from 16 games, with only four defeats during this span.

El Glorioso has struggled to dominate their Basque rivals Athletic, securing just nine wins out of 52 encounters across all competitions; however, one of those wins was achieved in the reverse fixture at San Mames earlier this season.

Athletic remains unbeaten away at Alaves since October 2020, although their prior encounter in the 2024-25 season ended in a 1-1 draw.

It cannot be denied that this has been a frustrating season for the Lions, who were anticipated to once again contend for Champions League placement after finishing fourth last year.

A record of 12 wins, five draws, and 16 losses from 33 encounters has earned Ernesto Valverde’s team 41 points, placing them in 10th position, but they are still just three points shy of sixth-placed Getafe, creating a potential pathway for European football in the 2026-27 season.

Athletic currently trails significantly in the pursuit of Champions League spots, while Europa League qualification seems out of reach, but securing a position in next season’s Conference League would at least provide the chance for more European matches in 2026-27.

The Lions have indeed lost five of their last seven league fixtures, including a 3-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in their last match on April 25.

Alaves La Liga form:

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Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

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Team News

On Saturday, Alaves will be without Lucas Boye due to a hamstring problem, while Carlos Protesoni will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability.

Ibrahim Diabate stepped in for Boye from the bench last match, and it is anticipated that the 26-year-old will make just his third start in La Liga this weekend.

Toni Martinez has netted six goals in his last five La Liga outings, and the 28-year-old is expected to feature prominently in the attacking third on Saturday.

Athletic, on the other hand, has been able to reduce their injury concerns in recent matches; presently, their only uncertainty is Benat Prados, while Mikel Jauregizar returns from suspension.

Jauregizar is poised to return to the midfield, and there could be an adjustment further up the pitch, with Alex Berenguer potentially stepping in for Unai Gomez.

Nico Williams has faced injury troubles this season, but the Spaniard has participated in Athletic’s last four La Liga matches, and he is expected to be included in the starting lineup unless late fitness issues arise.

Alaves probable starting XI:

Sivera; Tenaglia, Jonny, Parada; Perez, Ibanez, Blanco, Suarez, Rebbach; Diabate, Martinez

Athletic Bilbao probable starting XI:

Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Palace; I Williams, Berenguer, N Williams; the cross

Alaves is fighting to avoid relegation, showing decent form, making it hard to see a struggling Athletic overcoming them on Saturday. However, the visitors should still be capable of securing a point, with both managers possibly having to settle for a draw.