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Athletic Bilbao vs Osasuna: Tense Clash at San Mames

Just a single point splits Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna as they walk into a tense Tuesday night at San Mames, both sides glancing nervously at the table and at their treatment rooms.

Athletic sit 11th, two places behind their visitors, and a long way from the euphoria that swept through the club not so long ago. Under Ernesto Valverde’s third spell, they ended a 40-year wait for Copa del Rey glory in 2024 and then rode that wave into a top-four finish in the 2024-25 season. That felt like a new era.

This season has dragged them back to earth. The drop-off has been sharp enough to push Valverde to confirm he will leave at the end of the campaign, a painful call for a coach so tied to the club’s identity.

The numbers tell their own story. Athletic are six points off the top six, but that same gap separates them from the bottom three. Four defeats in their last five league games have turned what should have been a European chase into a balancing act. The latest blow came at San Mames, where Villarreal left with a 2-1 win despite a late strike from Gorka Guruzeta that only softened the scoreline, not the mood.

San Mames, usually a fortress, has already seen seven league defeats this term. Athletic now stare at the possibility of back-to-back home La Liga losses for the first time since April/May 2023. That’s the kind of stat that lingers in players’ minds as they walk out of the tunnel.

There is at least one anchor to cling to: a strong recent record against Osasuna. Athletic have avoided defeat in nine of their last 10 league meetings with Los Rojillos, winning four and drawing five. It is not dominance, but it is a pattern.

Osasuna arrive in Bilbao with their own strange mix of comfort and frustration. Seven points clear of the relegation zone, five behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo, they sit in that awkward middle ground where Europe is a stretch but danger still lurks if they switch off.

Alessio Lisci’s side have only one win in their last six, yet they have quietly pieced together a three-game unbeaten run. They edged Girona 1-0, then went blow for blow in a 2-2 draw with Alaves, and followed it up with a 1-1 against Real Betis.

At El Sadar, Ante Budimir kept his nerve from the spot to cancel out Abde Ezzalzouli’s opener, extending Osasuna’s unbeaten home run in the league to nine matches since a November defeat to Real Sociedad. At home, they own the fifth-best record in La Liga.

Away from Pamplona, the story flips.

Osasuna’s away form is among the worst in the division. Just 10 points from 16 road games, joint-third worst in the league, and only two away league wins all season. The numbers don’t lie: this is a team that changes character once it leaves El Sadar. Their last league victory at San Mames came back in February 2020, a 1-0 grind that feels a long time ago now.

Injury shadow over San Mames

Team news adds another layer of concern for both coaches, with key names still stuck on the sidelines.

For Athletic, midfielder Benat Prados continues his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, a long and unforgiving process that has already written off his season. His absence strips Valverde of a valuable option in the middle of the pitch, especially in a team searching for control and rhythm.

There is at least some positive movement elsewhere. Nico Williams, whose campaign has been chopped up by injuries, is set to keep his place in the starting XI after finally managing his first start in two months. His pace and direct running give Athletic a different edge; keeping him fit for the run-in has become almost as important as any tactical tweak.

Defensively, Antoni Gorosabel is pushing to come in from the start after replacing Inigo Lekue at half-time in the defeat to Villarreal. That right-back spot feels up for grabs.

Osasuna have their own long-term concern. Iker Benito remains out as he works his way back from a serious knee injury, another young player forced to watch from the stands while the season unfolds without him.

Suspensions complicate Lisci’s selection. Asier Osambela serves the second game of his two-match ban, while Alejandro Catena sits this one out after collecting his 10th yellow card of the campaign. Flavian Boyomo returns from his own suspension and is expected to slot straight into the centre of defence to cover Catena’s absence.

Predicted lineups

Athletic Bilbao possible starting XI:

  • Simon;
  • Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Berchiche;
  • Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta;
  • I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams;
  • Guruzeta

Osasuna possible starting XI:

  • Herrera;
  • Rosier, Boyomo, Herrando, Galan;
  • Moncayola, I. Munoz;
  • Garcia, Oroz, V. Munoz;
  • Budimir

The form guide leans towards a stalemate. Athletic are stumbling, but they have not lost any of their last five against Osasuna. Lisci’s men rarely win on the road, yet they are stubborn enough to make every point a fight.

Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Osasuna.

In a season where both clubs have flirted with bigger ambitions and brushed against real danger, a draw at San Mames might say less about this one night and more about where they truly stand.

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