A day after being beaten 3-1 by Zaragoza in their final preseason outing, Athletic Club step straight into competitive action at home against Sevilla on August 22. The timing is awkward: Edin Terzic’s squad have not played a La Liga minute yet this season, sitting 11th with zero points while their visitors arrive on the back of a winning start. Sevilla, fourth in La Liga after a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano six days ago, will be looking to compound Athletic’s difficult week.
What’s at stake
Sevilla picked up 3 points from their opening game, joining the teams who earned a winning start to the season. Real Betis are also sitting on 3 points after one round, and a second straight win would give Luis Garcia Plaza’s side early momentum before the table starts to take shape. Sevilla’s description in the standings reads ‘Champions League league stage,’ a status they will want to defend across a long season.
For Athletic Club, the immediate priority is simply getting off the mark. They are yet to play a competitive game this season and a defeat at home on Matchday 2 would leave them three points behind the teams already in the top four before things have barely started. A win, on the other hand, would immediately put them level with the early pacesetters and signal that the preseason defeats are no cause for alarm.
How they got here
Athletic’s last five results make uncomfortable reading: three defeats in their final three preseason games, including a 1-3 loss to Marseille, a 0-1 defeat to Atalanta, and the Zaragoza reverse that closed the summer schedule. They did beat Burgos and Racing Santander earlier in preseason, but the quality of opposition has stepped up and Terzic has not seen the defensive stability he will want before a home La Liga opener. Sevilla’s preseason was a mixed bag, losing to Bayer Leverkusen, but they closed it with a sharper edge: their 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano last week showed enough organization and attacking intent to carry three points.
Sevilla are fourth, three points from a maximum of three available. Athletic are 11th, level with several clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid who have also yet to play. The head-to-head between these two sides is perfectly balanced over the last ten meetings: four wins each and two draws. In their five most recent encounters, the last three games have all been won by the away side, a detail Athletic’s fans will note with mild concern given the current dynamic.
Key battle to watch
Athletic’s wide forwards, including Nico Williams and Inaki Williams, will be tested by Sevilla’s defensive shape. Sevilla allowed Rayo to create chances before sealing the result, meaning their high defensive line has already shown some vulnerability. If Terzic can get his wingers in behind early, it forces Sevilla into a reactive mode they have not yet shown they can handle for a full 90 minutes. On the other side, Sevilla’s ability to control midfield through Lucien Agoume and Jon Guridi will go a long way toward dictating the tempo against an Athletic side that still needs to find its competitive rhythm.
Key Stats
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Our Prediction
Sevilla arrive with competitive minutes in their legs and the confidence of an opening-day win, while Athletic are walking into their first league game still absorbing three preseason defeats. That gives the visitors a real edge in terms of sharpness. Still, Athletic are historically strong at home in this fixture and Terzic’s squad carries enough individual quality to flip the result. A tight game where Sevilla’s early-season rhythm could prove the deciding factor.