Athletic Bilbao take on the visitors Rayo Vallecano in the round 2 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Monday, August 25th at Estadio San Mames (Bilbao).
Athletic reunited with Ernesto Valverde three years ago. It did not bring immediate effect — in the 2022/2023 season, they missed out on European competitions to local rivals Osasuna. But last year they won the Copa del Rey — their first cup triumph in 40 years, since 1984. In the following campaign, alongside a solid run in the Europa League (falling only in the semifinals to Manchester United), they also stayed inside the top four of La Liga for most of the season. Eventually, Villarreal caught them on points, but Athletic ended 5th. Now, ahead of their Champions League return, they managed to keep star man Nico Williams by extending his contract. They opened the new La Liga season against Sevilla. Despite conceding twice, they fought back and snatched a 3-2 win. Athletic’s recent form shows resilience and sharp attacking play, with Williams and Guruzeta proving decisive. Their ability to come from behind highlights the mental toughness that could help them stay competitive at the top.
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Rayo Vallecano surprised even themselves last seasonю The Bees were considered a solid mid-table side with a unique playing identity. The campaign before last was mediocre, but then Iñigo Pérez and his squad made a genuine breakthrough. They collected 52 points and, thanks to goal difference, finished ahead of Osasuna to claim 8th place. That spot secured them a ticket to the Europa Conference League. They kicked off there last Thursday against Neman and managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. In parallel, they also opened the new La Liga season impressively by defeating Girona 3-1 away, scoring all three goals before halftime. De Frutos stood out with a goal and an assist to Álvaro García. This start underlines Rayo’s growing confidence, especially in attack, where their pace on the wings causes plenty of problems. With such momentum, they are entering the season full of belief and ambition to prove they belong on the European stage.
Over the last decade, in 15 encounters, the Bees have beaten the Basques only once, losing 10 of those matches. The Basques are playing at home, and with their quality and experience, they should secure a victory.
Prediction for the match: Athletic Bilbao to win.
