Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Sevilla FC (LaLiga MD1)

The wait is finally over, Athleticzales! LaLiga action returns to San Mames as Athletic Club host Andalusian outfit Sevilla FC in our first match of the season.

The upcoming campaign promises to be an exciting one with Athletic ready to compete in four competitions, including the Champions League.

However, first things first, and the Lions will be keen to get off to a positive start and get three points up on the board. What's more, the clash comes on the opening weekend of Aste Nagusia, Bilbao's big week of festivities, so there's bound to be a great atmosphere all over the city.
 

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Sevilla FC

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 25/26 (Matchday1)

Sunday August 17, 19:30 CEST

Tickets can be purchased via this link. 
 

 

Team News
Ernesto Valverde has named a 23-man squad for Sunday's clash in Bilbao.  

 

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

📈 "The challenge is to take Athletic a step further forward."

📢 "We're at home in front our people. Let's see if we can start with a win."

🎙️ Ernesto Valverde previews #AthleticSevilla #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/1T3xubqDTh

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) August 16, 2025

The Opponents

 

Head coach:

Matías Almeyda, a former Argentine international midfielder, took over at the Sanchez-Pizjuan this summer. He spent a season at Sevilla as a player in 1996/97, part of a career that also saw him turn out for River Plate, Lazio, Parma, Inter Milan and Brescia, among others.

After hanging up his boots in 2011, he was appointed as head coach at River Plate, staying there for 18 months. Matías has also led Banfield, Chivas de Guadalajara, San Jose Earthquakes and AEK Athens.
 

Summer signings:

There's not been a lot of movement at Sevilla so far this summer. In addition to players returning from loans, they've brought in Alfon González (winger, from Celta Vigo), Gabriel Suazo (left-back, from Tolouse) and Odysseas Vlachodimos (goalkeeper, loaned from Newcastle United).

In terms of departures, Suso left for Cádiz on a free transfer, Albert Sambi Lokonga returned to Arsenal as his loan has ended and Saul Ñiguez's loan also finished.
 

Pre-season form:

Almeyda's side have played six warm-up fixtures in total. They lost 1-3 to Birmingham, drew 1-1 with Sunderland, won 2-4 against Schalke 04, drew 1-1 with Olympique Marseille, beat Al-Qadisiyah after 2-2 and then winning on penalties, and finally drew 1-1 with Tolouse.
 

Previous Meetings
This will be the 163rd LaLiga clash between both sides. So far, Athletic have registered 64 wins, 32 draws and 66 defeats in their matches against Sevilla FC.

What's more, Sunday's meeting is the fourth time we've met on LaLiga Matchday 1. In 1955/56, the Lions beat Sevilla 6-1 at San Mames, with Eneko Arieta scoring a hat-trick. We kicked off the 1988/89 campaign with a 3-0 home victory - Peio Uralde grabbed a brace and Joseba Aguirre bagged the other goal. Finally, we faced off again at the beginning of the 1991/92 season, where Athletic lost 0-2 at The Cathedral.

The Andalusians have visited San Mames for 81 top-flight fixtures. Athletic have a strong record: 51 victories, 11 draws and 19 losses.
 

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 were unfortunate not win last season's fixture. Mikel Jauregizar put the Zurigorri ahead in the 36th minute, with his first ever goal for Athletic. However, Julen Agirrezabala was sent off in the 81st minute and Sevilla applied the pressure until equalising via an Alex Padilla own-goal in stoppage time.
 

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

You can also follow the fixture, and keep up to date with everything Athletic related, through the official Athletic Club app, as well as on our website and social media accounts:

Twitter

Basque: @Athletic_eus

English: @Athletic_en

Spanish: @AthleticClub

Facebook

www.facebook.com/ATHLETICCLUB/ (Spanish + Basque)

Instagram

@athleticclub (Spanish + Basque)

Website

Basque: www.athletic-club.eus/eu/

English: www.athletic-club.eus/en/

Spanish: www.athletic-club.eus/