The big picture

Athletic Club come in 7th on the ladder with 16 points; Villarreal are 8th on 15. Only a couple of spots separate them, so there is plenty riding on it.

Athletic Club are 4–3–3 in LaLiga 2026-27, averaging 1.4 goals for and 1 against.

Villarreal are 3–5–3 in LaLiga 2026-27, averaging 1.4 goals for and 1.4 against.

Form

Athletic Club have won two of their last five and most recently beat Real Sociedad 2–1.

Villarreal have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Paris Saint-Germain 0–6.

Head to head

These sides have met 44 times on our records since 2003: Athletic Club 13, Villarreal 18, 13 drawn.

Last time out (2025-26), Villarreal won 2–1 at San Mamés.

Biggest margin between these two: Athletic Club by 4 goals in 2014-15 (4–0).

Players to watch

For Athletic Club, watch Álex Berenguer (0.4 goals a game, 4 assists in 2026-27) and Iñaki Williams (0.3 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026-27).

For Villarreal, watch Pape Gueye (0.3 goals a game in 2026-27) and Georges Mikautadze (0.3 goals a game, 1 assist in 2026-27).

At San Mamés

Athletic Club have won 8 of their last 20 at San Mamés.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Athletic Club have the edge.