Athletic Bilbao welcomes relegation-threatened FC Girona back to the Champions League after eleven years, and the starting position could hardly be more different. While the Basques are in 7th place with nine points despite their emotional 0-2 defeat to Arsenal, Girona are at the bottom of the table with just one point and are in a dramatic crisis that began back in January. The recent 4-0 home defeat to Levante, with two red cards for Witsel and Vitor Reis, was a new low, with fans leaving Montilivi early and openly criticizing the club’s management for the first time. Athletic, on the other hand, are struggling with inconsistent form after their 2-0 defeat at Valencia, with Dani Vivian’s red card posing additional challenges. The head-to-head record clearly favors the home side, who impressively demonstrated their superiority with a 3-0 win in February and have scored in all five of their matches against Girona.
- Venue: Estadio de San Mamés, Bilbao
- Date and time: 23.09.2025, 7:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (matchday 6)
Bilbao form & record check
Athletic Bilbao are currently going through a difficult phase. After two wins at the start of the season, the team suffered three consecutive defeats, including a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League and most recently a 2-0 defeat at Valencia. Interestingly, a remarkable pattern has emerged: in all five of their most recent games, the score was 0-0 at halftime, but the Leones regularly collapse in the second half. Personnel problems are weighing heavily on Ernesto Valverde. With Yeray Álvarez suspended for doping, Beñat Prados injured, and Unai Egiluz out, the team is missing key players. In the Valencia game, the situation was exacerbated by Dani Vivian’s red card in the 61st minute for a last-ditch foul. Laporte will not be able to register this defensive weakening for the Champions League, as his transfer was only completed after the deadline. Despite the recent setbacks, Valverde’s team is still in a solid position. With nine points, Athletic are in 7th place in the table, level on points with Real Betis and Getafe, which shows how close the mid-table teams are in the league. The return to the Champions League after an 11-year absence was marred by the defeat to Arsenal, but San Mamés experienced an emotional night with over 51,000 spectators. The current slump in form is all the more surprising given that Athletic are normally known for their consistency. The fact that they regularly keep up in the first half but collapse after the break may indicate physical or mental problems.
Coach Ernesto Valverde is likely to field his team in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Personnel problems in defense are forcing some adjustments, as both Laporte and Yeray Álvarez are unavailable. Navarro could get a chance to start up front, while Nico Williams will probably start on the bench. The absence of Beñat Prados after his cruciate ligament rupture weighs heavily in midfield, which is why the duo of Vesga and Jauregizar will likely form the center.
Girona Form & Record Check
FC Girona finds itself in a precarious situation. With just one point from five games, the club is bottom of the table, a position that is nothing short of disastrous for a club that reached the Champions League last season. The recent defeat to Levante was an absolute low point. The game collapsed after Witsel was sent off in the 30th minute, with the home side losing 4-0. Shortly after the break, Vitor Reis received a second red card, making any resistance impossible. Levante mercilessly exploited their numerical advantage and scored four goals with only nine Girona players on the field. Interestingly, the performance against Celta Vigo had been promising. The 1-1 draw was the best performance of the season, showing improved stability and intensity. Vanat scored on his debut after just twelve minutes, and Ounahi integrated surprisingly quickly. But Blind’s unfortunate mistake in stoppage time prevented the first win. The losing streak is devastating. Four defeats and only one draw have shaken the fans’ confidence. Against Villarreal, they suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat, and against Sevilla, they lost 2-0 at home. This consistency in failure is alarming for Míchel’s team. The mood at Montilivi has long since turned. Fans are leaving the stadium early and demanding the resignation of the club’s management. The euphoric days of Champions League qualification are forgotten, replaced by sheer frustration at the sporting collapse.
Girona are likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, although Míchel may make personnel changes in light of the ongoing crisis. Gazzaniga will be in goal after recently putting in some good performances and establishing himself as the new number one. In defense, Vitor Reis could get another chance, although his red card against Levante raises questions. Blind on the left side faces a difficult task to stabilize his form. With Tsygankov injured, an important creative element in the offensive play is missing. The midfield lineup will be interesting: Ounahi has integrated well and could start alongside Witsel, while Vanat seems set to start as striker after his debut goal. However, this lineup is only a prediction, as Míchel could well spring a surprise after recent disappointments.
H2H Bilbao – Girona Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The direct duels between Athletic Bilbao and Girona regularly provide spectacular entertainment. The last five encounters have been evenly balanced: both teams have won twice, with one draw rounding off the record. Athletic dominated most recently in February 2025 with a 3-0 home win. Interestingly, the Basques have shown remarkable consistency in attack, scoring in each of their last five head-to-head matches. However, Girona countered with a 2-1 away win in October 2024. The match in February 2024 was pure drama, with Athletic winning 3-2. Only once was it quieter: the 1-1 draw in November 2023 was the only match without at least three goals. The scoring reliability of both teams is remarkable. Athletic scored in all five games, but also conceded four goals. Girona failed to score only once, in their last 3-0 defeat, and conceded goals in all five matches. A clear pattern is emerging: both teams regularly engage in open exchanges of blows. Four of the five encounters ended with at least three goals, fueling expectations for another high-scoring game.
The tip for under 1.5 goals in the first half has a solid basis: Athletic have not finished a single first half with a goal this season, while Girona have only scored before the break in one of five games. Without Nico Williams, the home side lack the speed on the wings that normally causes early trouble. Girona, on the other hand, have been playing more defensively since their recent defeats and often need time to get into the game. The absence of Tsygankov further weakens the Catalans’ already meager offense. The “Both teams to score: No” bet is supported by the lack of goals from both sides, with Girona failing to score in four of their last five league games. Laporte could bring the necessary stability to Athletic’s defense in his home debut for La Liga, while the visitors are unlikely to be particularly threatening without their key playmaker. The boldest tip is to bet on Athletic winning to nil, speculating that the Basques will use their home dominance against an opponent that has been in a serious crisis since January and rarely fights back when behind.
