Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Real Valladolid (LaLiga MD25)

A crucial fixture for both sides. For Athletic Club this is an opportunity to extend their unbeaten run in LaLiga and increase the gap between us and fifth-placed Villarreal CF.

Meanwhile Alvaro Rubio's Real Valladolid side are in dire need of points. Sitting in 20th with 15 points, eight away from 17th-placed Las Palmas, they'll be desperate for a result to aid a potential relegation escape.
 

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Real Valladolid

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 24/25 (Matchday 25)

Sunday February 23, 14:00 CET

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 has named a 23-man squad for the clash in Bilbao.

Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta is back in the fold after recovering from injury.

Álvaro Djaló is still unavailable due to an ankle problem.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything he had to say at his pre-match press conference. 

 

🎙️ Ernesto Valverde previews tomorrow's #AthleticRealValladolid

"There's a lot at stake tomorrow. It's a great opportunity for us." #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/Nx83ZzLpB8

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) February 22, 2025

The Opponents

Head coach: Álvaro Rubio

Rubio becomes Valladolid's third permanent manager of the season, while this is also his second stint in charge this campaign after a spell as caretaker when Paulo Pezzalano was dismissed in December.

This time Rubio is taking over from Diego Cocca, Pezzalano's replacement, who was relieved of his duties this week.

Rubio, who had previously led Valladolid's B team, achieved two wins and a loss during his interim stint in December.
 

Top scorer: Selim Amallah

The attacking midfielder is joint top goalscorer with Raúl Moro, who is currently out injured. 

Selim is a Moroccan international, although born in Belgium, and he has three goals in 16 LaLiga appearances this season.
 

Recent form: LLLLL

Valladolid have found wins hard to come by of late. They have five losses in their last five matches, with their most recent victory a 1-0 home defeat of Real Betis last month.
 

 

 

Previous Meetings
Athletic first face Real Valladolid in LaLiga back in the 1948/49 campaign. On that occasion the Lions emerged 7-2 victors thanks to hat-tricks by Telmo Zarra and Jose Luis Panizo.

In total we've met 93 times in the top-flight, with the Zurigorri winning 41 matches, drawing 27 and losing the other 25.


 

The Lions have an exceptionally strong home record against Los Pucelanos. From 46 encounters in Bilbao, Athletic have registered 31 wins, 12 draws and three losses.
 

 

 

What's more, Los Leones are unbeaten in Valladolid's five most recent visits to The Cathedral, with two victories and three draws dating back to the 2013/14 campaign.

The two sides last faced each other in the 2022/23 season. Athletic won 3-0 with Gorka Guruzeta grabbing a brace and Dani Vivian scoring a powerful header.