Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano (LaLiga MD31)

LaLiga action returns to San Mames. Athletic Club, unbeaten at San Mames since August, will be hoping for a positive result to boost their Champions League aspirations.

Iñigo Perez's Rayo side are now well clear of the relegation battle and a win at The Cathedral could push them back into European contention.

Although this fixture is renowned for the feeling of friendship and camaraderie shared by both sets of fans, spectators can expect an intense battle on the pitch.
 

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 24/25 (Matchday 31)

Sunday April 13, 21:00 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
Ernesto Valverde has named a 23-man squad for Sunday's clash in Bilbao.  

Yuri Berchiche, out with a calf issue, is the only major absence.
 

 

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

 

The Opponents

Head coach: Iñigo Perez

A familar name for Athleticzales, the former Zurigorri midfielder stepped up from assistant coach to replace previous incumbent Francisco in February 2024.

After guiding Rayo to safety last season, the side have kicked on under Iñigo in 2024/25, with their LaLiga EA Sports status all but secured with eight fixtures remaining.
 

Top scorer: Jorge de Frutos

Vallecano's 33 goals this season have been well spread out among the squad, but winger De Frutos has the most, with four strikes from 28 appearances.

The 28-year-old joined the Madrid-based side from UD Levante in 2023. He was already familiar with the surroundings as in 2020 he had a year-long loan spell at Vallecas while contracted to Real Madrid B.
 

Recent form: DLDWL

After a run of five victories and three draws from December until February it looked as if Iñigo Perez's side might bag a European place, but a dip in form since then, with just one since, has seen them drop out of contention.

Their most recent outing for a 0-4 home loss to relgation battlers RCD Espanyol.
 

 

Previous Meetings
We first faced off in LaLiga back in 1977/78 and we've met a total of 43 times since then. Athletic's complete top-flight record against Rayo is: 24 wins, 10 draws and nine defeats.
 

 

 

Rayo have visited Bilbao 21 times in LaLiga and the Lions have a strong record against the Madrileños, with 15 victories, three draws and three defeats.
 

 

Athletic have won four and lost just one of Rayo's five most recent trips to San Mames. What's more, on three of those occasions, the Zurigorri have scored three or more goals.
 

 

 

Los Rojiblancos ran rampant against Rayo at San Mames last season, putting four goals past the visitors.

Gorka Gurezeta opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. In the second half, an Alfonso Espino own-goal plus a strike each from Nico and Iñaki Williams put the game to bed.