There’s an intensifying three-way La Liga battle between Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, but behind those three teams is an emerging Athletic Bilbao squad, who might make it to the Champions League next season. Ernesto Valverde’s side is fourth in the Spanish top-flight table with 45 points, and they’re one of the hottest teams in the league.
Athletic Bilbao didn’t get into the Top 4 by accident, as they’re on a positive run of La Liga 2025 results. Believe it or not, Los Leones haven’t lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat against Girona at Estadi Montilivi last October (14 straight matches). They are also competing in this year’s Europa League, and they finished the league phase as the second-best team to qualify directly for the Round of 16.
Continue reading below, as SBOTOP examines the solid season Athletic Bilbao have thus far.
Los Leones stick to their unconventional philosophy
Athletic Bilbao’s recent success is impressive considering they rarely depend on the transfer market to strengthen the team. Because of their strict “Basque-only” transfer policy, they can only sign players born in the Basque country (France is included) or from their academy to promote local talent.
Los Leones are the fourth most successful club in Spanish football history. They have won eight league championships in their existence, all of which have been since the implementation of this policy. Athletic Bilbao also have 24 Copa del Rey trophies in their cabinet, including their most recent one in 2023-24.
The Williams brothers are the best examples of their success in this self-imposed policy. Inaki and Nico were plucked out from the academy and became two of the team’s best players in recent years.
Inaki Williams was once dubbed the “Basque Iron Man” for recording 251 straight La Liga appearances for Los Leones. For context, the Ghanaian striker hadn’t missed an Athletic Bilbao match for seven years before January 2023. Call it luck or genetics, but his record is here to stay.
He and his younger brother, Nico, were the first siblings to play together in La Liga since 1986. Inaki also holds the record for being the first Black player to score in the club’s long history, when he scored in February 2015.
Nico Williams debuted for Athletic Bilbao in a 2-2 draw against Valladolid in April 2021. Williams is one of Europe’s most exciting wingers, and the 22-year-old still has a lot of mileage in him. Barcelona wanted to acquire him last summer, but Williams declined, which was the right decision.
Players who have stepped up for Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao fans dream of Champions League football because of their standout players. Inaki and Nico Williams continue to be great, but they’re not the only ones producing for Los Leones.
Oihan Sancet is the team’s top scorer with 12 league goals and one assist. For context, the 24-year-old is among the highest-scoring midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, only behind Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who has 14 league goals. Sancet also has more league goals than Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, among others. He is typically a No. 10 but can play as a No. 9 out of necessity.
Alex Berenguer, Gorka Guruzeta, and the Williams brothers combine for 15 league goals and 19 assists this season. Meanwhile, centre-backs Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes have three league goals each.
First-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon has been hampered by injuries this season, but Athletic Bilbao remain solid in the backline because of backup Julen Agirrezabala. The 24-year-old shot-stopper has six clean sheets this season, good for joint fifth-best in La Liga alongside Sevilla’s Orjan Nyland and Leganes’ Marko Dmitrovic.
What lies ahead for Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao face a tough road ahead for qualifying for the Champions League next season, but they can do it in two ways. They can do it by securing a Top 4 spot at the end of the 2024-25 campaign or winning the Europa League regardless of their La Liga seeding.
Both outcomes are achievable, per the La Liga 2025 odds. As things stand, Villarreal are the only team threatening to take their Top 4 spot, with Rayo Vallecano, Mallorca, Real Betis, and Osasuna way behind in points. Los Leones are also huge favourites to win this season’s Europa League trophy.
A rare double is in the cards for Ernesto Valverde’s men, and they know it. As long as they don’t suffer an injury crisis, Athletic Bilbao are on the verge of achieving their best campaign in years.
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