Match Pack: Athletic Club vs RC Celta Vigo (LaLiga MD6)

After managing back-to-back away wins, Athletic Club return to San Mames keen to keep the good times running.

Victories on the road over Las Palmas (2-3) and CD Leganés (0-2) have propelled Los Leones up the LaLiga standings.

Now Athletic welcome Claudio Giraldez's in-form Celta Vigo to Bilbao, a fixture which, in addition to the friendly atmosphere between fans, tends to produce plenty of goals.
 

Match Info
Athletic Club vs RC Celta Vigo

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 24/25 (Matchday 6)

Sunday September 22, 16:15 CEST

Tickets can be purchased via this link.

 

How to Watch
Check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the match
 

Team News
Valverde named a 22-man squad for the clash in Bilbao.

Unai Simón, Nico Williams, Yuri Berchiche and Yeray are out due to injury.
 

 

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything the gaffer had to say at his press conference
 

 

 

 

The Opponents

 

Head coach: Claudi Giraldez

 

The 36-year-old stepped up from Celta B to take over the senior side to replace Rafa Benitez in March last season.

When Claudio took over, Celta were in 17th place just two points above the relegation zone. However, a run of five wins, two draws and three defeats from their final ten matches saw the Galicians finish in a comfortable 14th.
 

Summer signings:

Celta have brought in two experienced LaLiga players in Marcos Alonso (free transfer) and Borja Iglesias (loaned from Real Betis), while they've also signed Ilaix Moriba on loan from RB Leipzig.
 

Recent form:

Giraldez's side are sixth in LaLiga after picking up three wins and two defeats from their first five fixtures of the season. Their most recent outing was a 3-1 home victory over Real Valladolid.

Previous Meetings
Athletic have played Celta Vigo a total of 116 times in LaLiga. The first ever encounter was a 2-4 victory for Los Leones at Balaidos back in the 1939/40 campaign.

The Zurigorri's LaLiga record against Los Celestes is 61 wins, 24 draws and 31 defeats.
 

The Galicians have visited Bilbao for a LaLiga clash on 58 occasions, with Athletic registering 42 wins, 11 draws and just five defeats. 
 

The last five meetings at San Mames are a clear indication of how evenly matched these clashes are. Athletic have won twice, lost twice and drawn once.
 

Last season's clash was a seven-goal thriller. Iago Aspas opened the scoring in the 25th minute before Oihan Sancet equalised. Jonathan Bamba then made it 1-2, but Gorka Guruzeta scored in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Guruzeta netted again shortly after the restart to make it 2-3. When Jorgen Strand Larsen bagged a goal in the 66th minute it seemed the match would finished 3-3.

There was one final twist left. Óscar Mingueza handballed in the 95th minute and Alex Berenguer, showing nerves of steel, calmy slotted home from the spot.