AUTUMN TURBULENCE FOR ATHLETIC CLUB — A SEASON OF CONTRASTS
By Alex Mineto
Since our last article analysing Athletic Club’s performance in the 2025/2026 season, “Los Leones” have played eight matches with a balance that leans more negative than positive.
Mixed Results, Mixed Feelings
The period began on 19 October with a 0–0 draw away at Elche CF. Athletic defended solidly, but lacked the creativity and finishing needed to break the deadlock. The point was acceptable, yet felt like a missed opportunity in a season where every domestic point is precious.
Three days later in the Champions League, they claimed a morale-boosting 3–1 win at home against Qarabağ FK. That result offered a rare moment of optimism, a sign that Athletic Club can still deliver under European pressure.
But the bounce was short-lived. Back in La Liga on 25 October, they dropped 0–1 at home to Getafe CF. Despite the home advantage, the team lacked cutting edge, and the defeat underscored problems in attack and in breaking down organised defences.
Then came early November’s trip to play the Basque Derby against Real Sociedad — an agonising 2–3 loss. The match illustrated both Athletic’s attacking potential and defensive fragility: they showed ambition, but let themselves down in crucial moments under pressure.
Five days later, in Europe again, Athletic fell 0–2 away to Newcastle United — a reminder of the harsh reality of Champions League football, where reaching the next round is proving to be a dream slipping further away
At least there was some relief on 9 November: Athletic grabbed a 1–0 win at home against Real Oviedo — a modest but useful victory that offered a moment to regroup.
However, their latest league match — an away visit to FC Barcelona on 22 November — ended in a bruising 0–4 defeat. Down to ten men after the hour mark, Athletic were outclassed on a historic night, as it marked Barça’s first match at the Camp Nou after more than two years of renovation works. It was a sobering end to a chaotic stretch.
Most recently, on 25 November, Athletic managed a 0–0 draw away at Slavia Praha in the Champions League — perhaps a fair result, but arguably a missed chance to take points and revive European hopes.
What the Numbers and Performances Say
Defensive organisation remains a strength.
Even in tough matches the Basque squad often stay compact, limiting clear-cut chances for rivals. That solidity secured the draw at Elche and kept the scoreline manageable at Slavia Praha.
Attacking troubles are growing.
While there are moments of promise — like the Qarabağ win or the goal against Oviedo — they remain too sporadic. A lack of consistent creativity and finishing has turned potential points into draws or losses, especially against teams that defend with discipline. This fragility in the final third remains a major handicap.
Lacking a True Goalscorer.
Athletic are feeling the cost of lacking a true attacking reference — the kind of decisive figure Oihan Sancet became during the 2024/2025 campaign. His 17 goals, presence between the lines and ability to unlock tight matches often carried the team through difficult stretches. Without that reliable spark this season, chances go unfinished, pressure builds, and matches that once tilted their way are now slipping from their grasp.
Squad rotation & fatigue loom large.
Juggling La Liga and Champions League matches strains depth. The heavy defeat at Barcelona, the narrow loss at Real Sociedad, and inconsistent attacking output suggest that periodization and mental focus have wavered.
A Brutal End to the Year: What Awaits Athletic Until December 31
As the calendar approaches its final stretch, Athletic Club face one of the toughest runs of fixtures of their season — a demanding sequence that will test their depth, resilience and ambition on both domestic and European fronts. The remaining schedule is unforgiving, and the margin for error thinner than ever.
In LaLiga, Athletic must first navigate two giants back-to-back at San Mamés: Real Madrid (3 December) followed only three days later by Atlético de Madrid (6 December). These are fixtures that require absolute concentration, defensive solidity and efficiency in front of goal, qualities the team has struggled to consistently display in recent weeks.
But the challenge doesn’t stop there. On 10 December, San Mamés hosts one of the continent’s dominant forces: Paris Saint-Germain, in a Champions League showdown that could define not only Athletic’s European hopes but their confidence heading into the final weeks of 2025. Facing PSG at home is always a monumental task; facing them amid a dip in form and an already congested schedule makes it even more daunting.
After that, Athletic returns to LaLiga to face Celta de Vigo (14 December), a match that offers points but not necessarily comfort. The year then closes with a home game against RCD Espanyol (22 December), theoretically the most accessible fixture of the run, but also the kind where the pressure to win becomes its own opponent.
Given the density and difficulty of these matches, it is clear that Athletic are heading into one of the most demanding periods of their season. This isn’t just about collecting points; it’s about survival, identity and momentum. Ending the year strongly would offer an invaluable psychological lift before travelling to Saudi Arabia in early January to face FC Barcelona in the Supercopa de España semifinal, a competition Athletic traditionally feel competitive in.
A positive December would allow Valverde’s side to reach the Supercopa with belief restored, the squad emotionally recharged, and the fanbase dreaming again. A poor month could deepen doubts and fatigue.
Despite the inconsistency that has marked Athletic’s season from the very start, the team now enters a decisive stretch. Tough rivals, heavy pressure and little room for error define what comes next. December won’t just test them, it will determine who they really are this season.
