Summary: Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla open the 2025-26 La Liga season with a first-round clash at San Mamés on Sunday, kicking off at 14:30 local time (Argentina). Bilbao, under Ernesto Valverde, are coming off a strong 2024-25 campaign, while Sevilla, coached by Matías Almeyda, aim to reclaim top-tier form after recent relegation battles. The match will be shown on DSports (online via DGO for clients), with minute-by-minute updates available at canchallena.com.
Match details and broadcast
– Teams: Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla
– Venue: San Mamés
– Kickoff: 14:30 (Argentina time) on Sunday
– Referee: Francisco José Hernández Maeso
– Broadcast: DSports on TV; online via DGO (subscription required)
– Live updates: canchallena.com
The preview
– Athletic Bilbao, led by Ernesto Valverde, are entering the season as one of La Liga’s traditional late-season contenders. They finished 4th in 2024-2025 and qualified for the Champions League, setting high expectations for another strong campaign.
– Sevilla, under Argentine manager Matías Almeyda, have spent the last two seasons fighting to stay in the top flight and aim to reestablish themselves among Spain’s elite this year.
Possible lineups
Athletic Bilbao: Unai Simón; Jesús Areso, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche Izeta; Mikel Jauregizar, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta; Iñaki Williams, Álex Berenguer, Nico Williams; Maroan Sannadi. DT: Ernesto Valverde.
Sevilla: Ørjan Nyland; Juanlu Sánchez Velasco, Andrés Castrín, Kike Salas, David Carmona; Lucien Agoumé, Djibril Sow; Dodi Lukebakio, Peque, Stanis Idumbo; Akor Adams. DT: Matías Almeyda.
Pre-match odds
– The betting markets favor the home side, with Athletic Bilbao priced around 1.70 to win. Sevilla sit at about 6.33, and the draw is around 3.87.
Season context
– La Liga 2025-2026 began on Friday with Rayo Vallecano beating Girona 3-1 away and Villarreal topping Oviedo 2-0. Barcelona, reigning champions, won 3-0 at Mallorca. Alavés defeated Levante 1-0, while Valencia and Real Sociedad drew 1-1. The next big match after this one is Real Madrid vs Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.
What this means and what to watch
– Both clubs are looking to set the tone early. Bilbao’s recent consistency and Champions League qualification expectations will be tested by Sevilla’s bid to return to stronger form after recent seasons outside the top positions.
– Key players to monitor include Iñaki Williams and Nico Williams for Bilbao’s attack and the potential impact of Sevilla’s frontline options under Almeyda.
– A strong start for Bilbao would reinforce their status as a regional powerhouse and a potential challenger for European places, while Sevilla’s performance could signal their trajectory for the campaign.
Additional notes
– If you’re following the match, remember to check DSports and DGO for live viewing options, and canchallena.com for live minute-by-minute updates and statistics.
Overall tone and takeaways
– The article portrays a balanced, forward-looking preview of a high-stakes season opener, with both teams eager to establish momentum. The sentiment is positive about Bilbao’s prospects and cautiously optimistic about Sevilla’s revival under Almeyda.