Athletic Bilbao take on the visitors PSG in the round 6 match of UEFA Champions League – League Phase. The match will be played on Wednesday, December 10th at Estadio San Mamés (Bilbao).
Athletic enjoyed several strong years after Valverde returned to the helm. First he delivered their first Copa del Rey in 40 years, then he guided the team to the Europa League semifinals and secured a fourth-place finish in La Liga. This summer the Bilbao side renewed Nico Williams on a long-term deal. But what followed was a clear and prolonged slump in the autumn. They have also struggled in the Champions League. They opened the campaign with heavy defeats — first a 0–2 home loss to Arsenal, then a 1–4 setback against Borussia Dortmund. After conceding again to Qarabag, they finally beat the Azerbaijani club 3–1, but failed to build on that success, losing 0–2 to Newcastle and drawing 0–0 with Slavia in Prague. Recent performances show that Athletic are finding it difficult to impose their usual pressing rhythm and often fade as matches progress. Their inconsistency across competitions highlights the lack of stability needed to navigate a demanding European schedule.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
PSG clearly view this tournament as a top priority. The Parisians had long dreamed of lifting the Champions League trophy. And only six months ago Luis Enrique finally delivered it — and did so spectacularly, crushing Inter 5–0 in the final. Afterwards they suffered a heavy defeat to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final and also trailed 0–2 to Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup. But they managed to turn that match around and ultimately claimed the title on penalties. Now the French side are determined to repeat their Champions League success, while clearly treating domestic fixtures with less urgency and frequently dropping points — yet still maintaining the lead. On the international stage, however, they are mostly winning, already four times, including another 5–3 victory over Spurs in the latest round and a 2–1 away win against Barcelona. Their only setback came at home in a 1–2 defeat to Bayern. PSG’s recent European form suggests a strong tactical cohesion and the confidence to dictate matches against high-level opponents. Even with occasional setbacks, their scoring output remains consistently high, reinforcing their status as one of the competition’s strongest contenders.
In 2011 the sides met in the Europa League and exchanged home victories. It is hard to believe that the Basques will avoid defeat. The bet is on a win for the ambitious visitors.
Prediction for the match: PSG to win.
