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Athletic Bilbao Matches Unwanted Defensive Record After 3-1 Loss to Sevilla in La Liga Opener

Athletic Bilbao began their La Liga season on a rough note, losing 3-1 to Sevilla at home. The match quickly turned against them when defender Yuri Berchiche was shown a straight red card just 11 minutes in. Playing with ten men for over 80 minutes proved difficult as Sevilla kept up pressure and took advantage of mistakes from the home side.

Defensive Weaknesses Resurface

This defeat saw Athletic Bilbao equal a negative defensive record from last season. Previously, they had only conceded three goals at home once, in a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid. That defensive strength seems to have vanished, as Sevilla scored three times through Oso, Chidera Ejuke, and Isaac Romero.

Several errors contributed to the outcome: Aitor Paredes conceded a key goal, goalkeeper Unai Simón lost concentration early, and Jesus Areso’s backheel mishap allowed the third goal. Manager Edin Terzic now faces the challenge of restoring the solid defence that helped Simón earn the Zamora Trophy in 2023-24 and achieve the fewest goals conceded in 2024-25.

Defensive Concerns from Last Season Continue

The opening day collapse mirrors the defensive problems that troubled the team throughout the 2025-26 campaign. That season ended with 58 goals conceded, the fifth worst record in La Liga. Although Paredes scored a consolation goal in the second half, the damage was already done. Terzic must fix these issues soon if Athletic Bilbao wants to reclaim the defensive resilience that once made San Mamés so tough for visitors.

Next Challenge: Barcelona Awaits

Athletic Bilbao face a quick turnaround with a challenging away trip to Barcelona coming up on Thursday. Barcelona arrive full of confidence after a dominant 5-0 win over Elche in their opener. Their attack, featuring players like Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Dani Olmo, averaged 2.5 goals per game last season. With Athletic Bilbao having only a few clean sheets last year, Terzic’s team will be tested severely trying to stop Barcelona’s momentum and halt their own early season slide.

  • La Liga Fixtures:
  • Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao: 27 Aug 2026, 21:00
  • Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla: 29 Aug 2026, 21:30
  • Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Date TBA

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