Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Athletic Club have started the 2025/26 La Liga season with a perfect record as they now take on Deportivo Alaves at San Mames in Bilbao in what is a Basque Country derby.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Athletic Bilbao preview: 100% record for Athletic
Athletic Club come into this one on the back of a brilliant start to the season once again under the management of former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde, which followed on from a summer in which key man Nico Williams committed his future to the club.
The hosts started their campaign with an entertaining 3-2 defeat of Sevilla at San Mames, before edging past Rayo Vallecano by a goal to nil. They then managed to defeat Real Betis by two goals to one at La Cartuja before the international break.
Alaves preview: Mid-table Alaves
Deportivo Alaves, with former Celta Vigo boss Eduardo Coudet at the helm, have become a little bit more entertaining under his management, but the Basque outfit have remained ineffective in their performance and were expected to struggle in La Liga.
However, they have started steadily with four points from their opening three matches. They defeated newly-promoted Levante on the opening day of the campaign and also drew with Atletico Madrid, either side of a slender defeat to the aforementioned Betis.
Athletic Bilbao team news: Nico Williams suspended
The aforementioned Nico Williams is now out injured for Athletic, with goalkeeper Alex Padilla missing through suspension, whilst Yeray Alvarez is banned for ten months.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesus Areso, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche; Benat Prados, Mikel Jauregizar; Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Ruben Navarro; Alex Berenguer
Unavailable: Alex Padilla (Suspended), Yeray (Suspended), Unai Egiluz (Injured), Nico Williams (Injured)
Questionable: Inigo Lekue (Injured), Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta (Injured)
Alaves team news: A few doubts
Alaves are dealing with a few doubts ahead of this one, such as new signing Lucas Boye, as well as defender Moussa Diarra and midfielder Carlos Benavidez ahead of this weekend.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Antonio Sivera; Jonny, Garces, Tenaglia, Yusi; Carlos Vicente, Pablo Ibanez, Antonio Blanco, Carles Alena; Jon Guridi, Toni Martinez
Unavailable:
Questionable: Diarra (Injured), Carlos Benavidez (Injured), Boye (Injured)
Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves prediction
Basque derbies, with the style of football almost feeling quite English, at least stereotypically, can often break out in to being quite fierce and hostile encounters. That is expected to be the case at San Mames this weekend, albeit there is a bit of a mis-match in terms of the quality and, even though they haven’t actually been overly convincing, Athletic will be expected to make it four wins from four this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao vs Alaves tip: Athletic Bilbao to win
