Athletic Club host Celta de Vigo at San Mamés Barria on Sunday evening in La Liga’s penultimate round, with both sides arriving in mixed form and little margin for error in the closing stages of the campaign.
The fixture carries added weight because it pits Athletic’s need to halt a slide against a Celta side that have shown they can trouble stronger opponents, even if their own results have been uneven.
Look at our Data and Stats for Athletic Club vs Celta de Vigo
Why it matters
For Athletic Club, this is about restoring control after a difficult run that has taken the shine off their season. Back-to-back defeats have sharpened the focus on a home performance that needs to feel more authoritative, especially in front of their own supporters.
Celta de Vigo, meanwhile, come into the game with a chance to underline the progress hinted at in recent weeks. Their win away to Atlético Madrid showed they can compete in demanding away fixtures, but the loss to Levante last time out reminded them how fragile that momentum remains.
Form picture
Athletic’s recent league form has been inconsistent, with two wins and three defeats in their last five. The victories over Deportivo Alavés and Osasuna offered brief relief, but losses to Espanyol, Valencia and Atlético Madrid have left them searching for a more settled rhythm.
The home defeat to Valencia will particularly concern them, because it followed a narrow win over Osasuna and suggested that San Mamés has not been the same guarantee of control it has been at other points in the season. Athletic have still shown they can score, but they have also been exposed when matches become stretched.
Celta’s sequence has been similarly uneven, though with a slightly different shape. They have beaten Atlético Madrid and Elche, but defeats to Levante, Villarreal and Barcelona show a side that can compete well in bursts without yet sustaining that level across a full run of fixtures.
That contrast matters here: Athletic are trying to recover stability, while Celta are trying to turn flashes of quality into something more dependable. Both arrive with enough recent evidence to suggest danger in attack, but also enough inconsistency to make control of the game difficult to predict.
Key storyline
The main tactical question is whether Athletic can impose a more direct, structured game from their 4-2-3-1 shape against a Celta side that have recently alternated between 3-4-3 and 3-4-2-1. Athletic’s best route looks to be pressing high, using width and forcing Celta’s back line into hurried decisions.
Celta’s recent set-up suggests they are comfortable with a back three and flexible attacking support around Iago Aspas. That gives them a platform to counter into space, but it also means they may spend long spells defending deeper if Athletic establish territory early.
Team news
Athletic are without Nico Williams because of a hamstring injury, which is a significant absence given the attacking balance he offers. His likely replacement in the wider forward roles means Athletic may lean more heavily on Iñaki Williams for penetration and on Álex Berenguer and Robert Navarro for support between the lines.
The expected Athletic shape remains a 4-2-3-1, with Unai Simón behind a back four of Adama Boiro, Aymeric Laporte, Dani Vivian and Jesús Areso. Alejandro Rego and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta are likely to anchor midfield, with Unai Gómez and Robert Navarro providing movement ahead of them.
Celta’s only listed injury is Matías Vecino, which leaves them with fewer selection concerns. Their recent lineups point towards a back three, and the predicted XI again suggests Ionuț Radu behind Javi Rodríguez, Marcos Alonso and Yoel Lago, with Fer López and Hugo Sotelo helping to connect midfield to the front line.
Up front, Iago Aspas remains the obvious focal point, likely supported by Ferran Jutglà and Hugo Álvarez. That front three gives Celta enough craft and movement to threaten on the break, even if they spend much of the match without the ball.
Tactical battle
The key area is likely to be the space behind Athletic’s full-backs and in front of Celta’s back three. If Athletic commit numbers forward, Celta will look to release runners quickly and make the most of transitions, especially through Aspas and the wide forwards.
At the other end, Celta’s wing-backs and wide midfielders will need to cope with Athletic’s pressure and repeated attacks from the flanks. If Athletic can pin them back, the home side should be able to build sustained pressure and force Celta into a reactive shape.
Recent meetings
Recent meetings have been lively and competitive, with both sides taking wins in the last five. Celta beat Athletic 2-0 in December, but Athletic have also won two of the previous four, including a 2-1 away success in January and a 3-1 home win in September 2024.
Reporter’s view
This feels like a match where Athletic’s need for a response may matter as much as the raw form. San Mamés should give them a platform, but they will need to be sharper and more controlled than they have been in recent weeks if they are to avoid another frustrating evening.
Celta have enough attacking quality to make this uncomfortable, particularly if the game opens up, yet their away results suggest they are still vulnerable when asked to defend for long periods. The most likely pattern is Athletic taking the initiative, Celta waiting for moments to break, and a tight contest being decided by which side handles the pressure better.
Prediction
Athletic Club are likely to edge a close contest at San Mamés, with their home pressure and Celta’s inconsistency tipping the balance in a narrow game.
