Twelve Days, Two Dreams: Athletic Bilbao's Big Fortnight Begins
Athletic Bilbao are chasing European football and a Copa del Rey final berth in the next 12 days. Here's why this stretch is massive for Valverde's side.
Athletic Bilbao have given themselves a well-earned breather this weekend — but don’t be fooled, the hard work is only just getting started.
Three on the bounce
The Lions wrapped up a third consecutive La Liga win in midweek, and the momentum is very real. Here’s where things stand:
- Athletic sit on 34 points in La Liga
- They’re just one point behind sixth-placed Espanyol
- Four unbeaten league games on the spin, three of those wins
- Guruzeta got on the scoresheet again, doing what he does
- Eder García made his debut — another name to keep an eye on
A month ago, Valverde’s lot were apparently talking about survival as the primary objective. Now they’re breathing down the neck of the European places. Football, innit.
The next 12 days are everything
The squad returns to training on Monday, and from that point it’s full gas until after the Copa del Rey second leg. Two fixtures define this fortnight:
1. Rayo Vallecano (away, Saturday) A trip to a freshly relaid Vallecas pitch. Athletic need the points to cement their European push, but there’s a secondary motivation — they want momentum and rhythm heading into the cup tie.
2. Real Sociedad (Anoeta, 4 March) — Copa del Rey semi-final second leg This is the big one. Athletic lost the first leg 1-0 at San Mamés, so they’re chasing the tie. One goal takes it to extra time, and the belief in the camp is that they can do exactly that. Jauregizar is expected to be back for Anoeta, and the likes of Vivian, Laporte and Sancet — all returning from injury — should get some minutes to get their legs going.
The fans have already shown up
If you needed any proof that the Athletic faithful are well up for it, look no further than the ticket demand for Anoeta. The club has just 558 allocations for travelling supporters — and they’ve already received close to 13,400 member requests for those seats. That’s the sort of support that gives you a lump in your throat, to be honest.
The bottom line
Athletic Bilbao are in a proper purple patch and the timing couldn’t be better. Europe is genuinely within reach in La Liga, and a Copa del Rey final is one big night in San Sebastián away. Valverde has this side playing with real confidence, and the next dozen days will tell us a lot about just how far these Lions can go this season.