The LaLiga Round 17 match between Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol will take place on December 22 at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Athletic Bilbao
For more than a month in LaLiga the team has alternated wins and defeats. In the defeats Athletic have often failed to score — for example, they lost 0-2 to Celta in the last round, and earlier suffered 0-7 reversals against Barcelona and Real Madrid combined. Conversely, in their victories the Basques have been defensively solid; in their most recent home league game Ernesto Valverde's side kept Atletico to a 1-0 defeat. Despite some signs of improvement, Athletic remain inconsistent and sit 8th in the table, although the gap to the European places has been cut to two points.
- At least one side failed to score in each of Athletic's previous six league matches.
- The club's uncompromising run in LaLiga spans eight matches (3 wins, 5 defeats).
- Athletic have conceded in five of their last seven LaLiga games.
Predicted lineups for Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol
Athletic Bilbao (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón – Yuri Berchiche, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Jesús Areso – Mikel, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Álex Berenguer – Gorka Guruzeta.
Key absences and availability: centre-back Dani Vivian is suspended. Injuries rule out Yuri Berchiche, Aymeric Laporte and Unai Echilus, midfielder Beñat Prados and forward Maroan Sannadi. Midfielder Robert Navarro has recovered and is available for selection.
Espanyol
Espanyol are in outstanding form and are now looking up towards the Champions League places. The Catalans have won four consecutive LaLiga matches, keeping three clean sheets in that run. A week ago they claimed a narrow 1-0 away win over a stubborn Getafe. That victory consolidated Manolo González's side in fifth, extending their lead over Real Betis to five points. They are four points shy of Atlético Madrid in fourth, with a game in hand.
- Either side scored in eight of Espanyol's last nine LaLiga fixtures.
- The Catalans' uncompromising run in the league stands at nine matches (6 wins, 3 defeats).
- No more than two goals were scored in six of Espanyol's last eight LaLiga games.
Espanyol (4-4-2): Marco Dmitrović – Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero, Omar El Hilali – Pere Milla, Edu Expósito, Urko González, Jofre Carreras – Roberto Fernández, Kike García.
Injury news: midfielders Ramón Terrats and Javi Puado are unavailable through injury.
Referee: Mateo Busquets (Spain)
Matches – 8 (LaLiga, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 41;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.1;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 25%.
Match prediction: Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol
Athletic have struggled for consistency and, while their recent form looks sharper than in early autumn, the pattern of alternating wins and losses is still a concern. Since the autumn they have won just four of 14 league matches (2 draws, 8 defeats), and in three of those four victories they eked out narrow one-goal wins.
Espanyol, meanwhile, have consolidated their place in the top five and are pushing for a top-four berth. Since the international break they have put together a four-match winning streak in LaLiga. They have collected at least one point in 12 of their previous 16 games this season (9 wins, 3 draws) and have lost by more than one goal in only 2 of those 16 matches.
Prediction: Espanyol (+1)
*Each team's listed starting XI reflects their most recent line-up in this competition.