Athletic Bilbao's European dream fading after summer stumbles
Ernesto Valverde's side struggling to match last season's heroics as Champions League qualification slips further away ahead of crucial January fixtures.
Athletic Club’s season is going Pete Tong compared to last year’s European qualification heroics, with Valverde’s men struggling to recapture their dominant form.
Lost momentum
The Basque side began this campaign with lofty ambitions - securing another European spot, possibly even Champions League qualification, and making a deep Copa del Rey run. Five months on, those dreams are looking increasingly distant.
The numbers tell a troubling story. Athletic currently find themselves adrift of the Champions League places, with Europa League and Conference League qualification also slipping from their grasp. What’s worse, they’ve played one more match than Espanyol and Real Betis, who occupy fifth and sixth in the table.
Last season’s Athletic were proper nails at San Mamés, where they were nearly unbeatable. In their first 26 official matches last campaign, they suffered just one defeat and two draws at home. This season? They’ve already lost five times and drawn once on their own patch.
Valverde himself acknowledged the decline after the Espanyol defeat: “The numbers aren’t similar, they’re worse. Last year we were at maximum level and this year we’re nowhere near it.”
Missing their spark
The contrast with last season’s opening Liga stretch is stark:
- 2023/24: Just three defeats (Barcelona, Atlético and Real Madrid)
- 2023/24: Nine wins, six draws, 27 goals scored, +11 goal difference
- 2023/24: Strong in Europe too - second in Europa League group stage
This season, Athletic are missing the creative flair that players like Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet provided last term. Williams in particular hasn’t reached his best form due to ongoing pubalgia issues. The younger Williams brother is following a conservative treatment plan that requires daily strengthening exercises, with coaching staff carefully monitoring his workload.
Valverde’s historic challenge
Despite the struggles, Athletic remain active in four competitions as they return from the Christmas break. January promises to be a dizzying month with Supercopa, Copa del Rey, and Champions League fixtures alongside their Liga campaign.
For Valverde himself, there’s a personal milestone approaching. The manager is closing in on 500 official matches in charge of Athletic (currently at 478), with at least 23 more guaranteed across all competitions this season. This achievement will cement his legendary status at a club where no other coach has reached such numbers.
The question now is whether he can use his experience to steer Athletic back toward European qualification before their season truly goes down the apples and pears.