Two teams in good form will battle it out on Sunday evening for an intriguing battle in Spain’s top flight Athletic Bilbao hospitable Real Betis to San Mames.

Both sides have collected 18 points from their first eleven games of the 2024-2025 season, with Athletic sitting fifth in the league. La Liga tablewhile Real Betis are sixth, ahead of the next set of matches.

Match example

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Athletic boast a record of five wins, three draws and three defeats from their eleven games in La Liga this season, with a total of eighteen points, which puts them fifth in the table, just three points behind Villarreal, who sit in the third place.

Ernesto Valverde‘s side will come into this match on a three-match unbeaten run, including a 0-0 draw against Mallorca in the league last season, having lost just once in all competitions since the end of August.

The Lions participate in the competition Europa League this season, and they have made an encouraging start, taking seven points from their three matches to sit eighth in the table.

Athletic’s only home defeat of the season came against Atletico Madrid at the end of August and they won each of their last three games in front of their own fans, including a 4–1 win over Espanyol in the league on 19 October.

The Basque team defeated Real Betis 4-2 in the corresponding match between the two sides last season, but the Seville team ran out a 3-1 winner in February this year.

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Real Betis is also playing in Europe this season, with the team playing in the Conference Leaguetook one point from their first two games and ended up in 27th place in the table.

The Greens and Whites are currently competing in three separate competitions, including the Copa del Rey, and will progress to the second round of the tournament on Thursday evening thanks to a 6-1 win over Gevora.

Manuel PellegriniThe Ajax team defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in La Liga last weekend with an own goal from Jose Gimenez the fourth minute of the match proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Real Betis have the same record as Athletic this season, winning five, drawing three and losing three of their eleven matches; they have scored just eleven goals to Athletic’s seventeen, but boast a stronger defensive record, conceding just nine goals to the Basque team’s eleven.

There hasn’t been much to choose between the teams this season, but the fact that Athletic have had more time to prepare for this match could give them an edge in Sunday’s intriguing clash at San Mames.

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

Form of Athletic Bilbao (all competitions):

Real Betis La Liga form:

Real Betis form (all competitions):

Team news

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Athletic will once again be without the services of their number one goalkeeper Unai Simonbut the Basque team are otherwise in excellent form with no injuries reported ahead of this match.

Head coach Valverde could name the same team that took the field against Mallorca last time, with Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams And Gorka Guruzeta set to appear in the forward areas.

However, there could be a change in the middle of the defence Dani Vivian may result in a recall.

As for Real Betis, Aitor Ruibal, Hector Bellerin, Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca, William Carvalho And Isco are not available for selection due to fitness issues.

Due to the nature of the performance and the result, head coach Pellegrini is expected to name the same team that took the field for the first whistle against Atletico in the competition last time.

Carlo Bakambu was among the goalscorers in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, but will likely be back on the bench for this match, with Vitor Roque is expected to be accompanied by Ezequiel Avila in the final third of the field.

Possible starting line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Agirrezabala; Gorosabel, Yeray, Vivian, Yuri; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Ruibal, Bartra, Llorente, Perraud; Fornals, Cardoso, Altimira, Ezzalzouli; Avila, Roque

We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Real Betis

This is a tough match to play, with both sides in strong form; However, Athletic will be the first of the two teams and home advantage should also be crucial on Sunday, so we expect the Lions to deliver an exciting match in San Mames.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

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