Athletic Bilbao head to Seville to face Betis in their third La Liga game of the season, a match loaded with nostalgia as it marks their first league trip to the Andalusian capital since lifting the Cup at La Cartuja 14 months ago. The rojiblancos return to the Betis stadium, a venue that holds fond memories for the club but presents a different challenge this time around. “It’s a ground that brings back good memories, but these are different situations. What matters here is the excitement to try and take advantage of this opportunity,” coach Ernesto Valverde said.
Betis, under Manuel Pellegrini, have spent several seasons fijando themselves among the league’s upper echelons and have been close to Athletic in the standings. Pellegrini highlighted the squad’s consistency as a key positive, praising a team that remains dangerous offensively and always looks to challenge opponents directly. The Verdiblancos will be without Abde, Pau López, Isco and Aitor Ruibal, but they welcome back Diego Llorente, Marc Roca and Nelson Deossa, three players who had yet to debut this campaign.
Valverde, meanwhile, confirmed a setback in midfield for the trip, with Ruiz de Galarreta ruled out due to muscular overload after yesterday’s training. Prados could get a chance to form a midweek combination with Jauregízar as the coach seeks options in midfield. One player who is fully fit and could start is Sancet, who played a part in the previous match against Rayo Vallecano, where he was instrumental in earning the decisive penalty. “He could start or come in as the game progresses depending on how it unfolds. He’s a player who needs to regain his form after the scare we had in Liverpool,” Valverde explained, emphasising the need for balance and rhythm.
Neither side has tasted defeat this season ahead of this clash. Betis drew with Elche and Celta and beat Alavés, while Athletic opened with a win against Sevilla and followed it up with another victory in San Mamés against Rayo Vallecano. “We go with the aim of continuing to add and maintaining the positive run,” Valverde stated.
If Athletic win, they would complete a nine-point haul before the international break, widening their early-season margin at the top and potentially carving out a small gap to a direct rival later in the campaign. To achieve that, the Basque side must sharpen their attacking and defensive balance and recapture the robust, match-steady form that characterised last season’s team, with La Cartuja serving as a symbolic reminder of what they can achieve when everything clicks.
Valverde underscored the harsh realities of La Liga, noting that success requires resilience. “To win in Primera you have to suffer because it’s very difficult. August still feels like a holiday, but when the league starts the real tests come. Opponents will hurt you, and you have to hurt them back. There are games where you must know the opponents have the arguments to trouble you, and that’s when you have to defend decisively and, when possible, attack with purpose.”
Outlook: A tightly contested, physical contest that could set the tone before the upcoming international break. Athletic’s renewed fitness at Sancet, combined with Prados’s potential involvement and Ruiz de Galarreta’s absence, shapes a tactical puzzle for Valverde to solve against a Betis side seeking to consolidate its status at the top of the table. The result could hinge on which team better translates its midfield battles into sustained pressure and sharp finishing.
Short overview: Athletic visit Betis in a clash of undefeated sides, with Sancet’s return and midfield choices likely to influence early momentum. A victory would extend their perfect start and tighten the race near the top before the break, while a draw or loss would keep the pack tightly bunched as the season progresses.
Additional notes: This matchup offers an opportunity to observe how both teams adapt to Betis’s temporary home arrangements and how Athletic’s game plan evolves to maximize Sancet’s creativity and Prados’s potential contribution in central roles. Overall, the stakes are high for both sides as they look to solidify early-season form.