Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Real Betis (LaLiga MD29)

Athletic Club host Real Betis at San Mames in the first of 10 crucial matches for Los Leones as we enter the final stretch of the 2025/26 campaign.

Ernesto Valverde's Lions are desperate to get back to winning ways and recapture the form which saw them go all of February unbeaten. What's more, a win could put Athletic back into European contention.

Our Andalusian visitors travel to Bilbao without a win in their last four (three draws and a loss). A victory would go some way to securing a spot in Europe next year.
 

Match Info

Athletic Club vs Real Betis

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 25/26 (Matchday 29)

Sunday March 22, 18:30 CET

Tickets can be purchased via this link.  
 

 

Team News

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

Aitor Paredes and Nico Williams remain sidelined, while Maroan and Beñat Prados are back in training but not fit enough for action.

Unai Gomez is back in the squad after recovering from injury.

 

Valverde's Comments

Ernesto stressed that Athletic need to "fight for our lives" in these remaining 10 matches of the season.

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

🫡 "There are ten matches left and we have a lot to play for."

🫂 "We have to go and fight for our lives in every match."

🎙️ Ernesto Valverde previews #AthleticRealBetis 👇

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) March 21, 2026

 

The Opponents

 

Check out all our previous matches against Real Betis 
 

Head coach: Manuel Pellegrini

This will be the Chilean tactician's 30th match against Athletic Club. His first came in 2004 when he was in charge at Villarreal CF.

In addition to Betis and Villarreal, the 72-year-old coach has also managed Malaga and Real Madrid in LaLiga.
 

Top goalscorer: Cucho Hernández

The Colombian international has netted eight goals in 23 LaLiga appearances so far this season. Cucho joined Real Betis from MLS outfit Columbus Crew in February 2025.
 

Recent form: WDDLD

The Andalusians have experienced some mixed results of late, with draws, a win and a loss in their last five fixtures. 

Their most recent outing saw them draw 1-1 with Celta Vigo at home.

 

Previous Meetings

Athletic have met Real Betis 119 times in LaLiga. The first ever clash was a 9-1 win for the Lions at San Mames in 1932.

Our overall league record against the Andalusians stands at 48 wins, 37 draws and 34 defeats.
 

 

Sunday's match will be our 60th top-flight meeting at San Mames. From the previous 59 encounters, Athletic have registered 34 victories, 17 ties and eight losses.



Athletic have done well against the Sevilla-based outfit in recent years. From Betis' last five visits to Bilbao, we've won five times, drawn once and lost once.



This season's reverse fixture saw Athletic beat Betis 1-2 at the Benito Villamarín back in August. The Lions went 0-2 up via a Marc Bartra own-goal and an Aitor Paredes strike, before Cedric Bakambu netted a consolation effort in the 97th minute.
 

 

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/