Athletic Bilbao vs Betis – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday evening, San Mames will host an exciting La Liga fixture, as Athletic Bilbao goes up against Real Betis.

Athletic currently sits in the 10th spot in the La Liga standings, trailing sixth-placed Celta Vigo by six points, while Real Betis occupies the fifth position, three points clear of the team immediately below them.

Match overview

This season has not unfolded as Athletic had hoped, struggling significantly in the Champions League group stage and experiencing a less-than-satisfactory La Liga run.

This Basque team has achieved a record of 10 wins, five draws, and 13 losses from their 28 La Liga encounters this season, amassing 35 points, which places them in 10th, six points behind sixth-placed Celta and 20 points off fourth-placed Villarreal.

Entering this match, Athletic aims to bounce back after consecutive defeats against Barcelona and Girona in Espana’s top tier, suffering three losses across all competitions, including their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad on March 4.

Head coach Ernesto Valverde revealed on Friday that he will depart from Athletic at the season’s conclusion, and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola has emerged as a potential early candidate for the position.

Iraola, who will be a free agent at Bournemouth this summer, notably played for Athletic’s first team from 2003 to 2015 before finishing his career at New York City FC.

Meanwhile, Real Betis arrives at this fixture following a commanding 4-0 victory against Panathinaikos in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 clash, which secured a 4-1 aggregate win and advanced them to the quarter-finals.

Coached by Manuel Pellegrini, they will face Braga in the upcoming round of the European tournament while also striving for a top-five finish in Espana’s top league.

The Seville-based side has recorded 11 wins, 11 draws, and six losses from their 28 league games this campaign, positioning them fifth on the table with 44 points, three points ahead of sixth-placed Celta Vigo and 11 points shy of fourth-placed Villarreal.

Real Betis have only been defeated three times in their 14 away league matches this season, racking up 19 points and showcasing the fifth-best away record in 2025-26.

Earlier in the season, Athletic triumphed 2-1 in the reverse fixture in Seville, although the corresponding match during the 2024-25 season ended in a 2-2 draw.

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

WWWDLL

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

WWDLLL

Real Betis La Liga form:

WWDDLD

Real Betis form (all competitions):

DDLLDW

Team News

Athletic continues to deal with a significant injury list, with Maroan Sannadi, Aitor Paredes, Unai Gomez, Nico Williams, Unai Eguiluz, and Benat Prados unavailable, while Yeray Alvarez remains suspended for the Basque team.

Head coach Valverde is anticipated to resist the urge to alter his starting lineup despite the unsuccessful outcome against Girona recently.

The extent of the team’s injuries has resulted in a depleted squad, but Gorka Guruzeta provides an option in the attacking sector.

Concerning Real Betis, Giovani Lo Celso and Isco are still recovering from injuries, and Diego Llorente is uncertain due to a muscular issue.

Marc Roca is expected to rejoin the midfield following their recent European match, while Alvaro Valles will return as the goalkeeper for the Seville side.

Cucho Hernandez is likely to be partnered in the attack with Aitor Ruibal, while Antony is again a confirmed starter in the wide position for the visitors.

Athletic Bilbao probable starting XI:

Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Palace; Navarro, Sancet, Berenguer; I Williams

Real Betis probable starting XI:

Valles; Bellerin, Bartra, Nathan, Rodriguez; Antony, Fornals, Roca, Ezzalzouli; Ruibal, Hernandez

This fixture is quite challenging to predict, particularly with Real Betis involved in European competition on Thursday night. It wouldn’t be surprising to see either a home or an away victory; however, we anticipate that the points will likely be shared in a low-scoring draw.