Athletic
SevillaBy Kayode Akintola — Football expert covering K League, Kakkonen, Liga I, Leon Second League
Athletic Bilbao finally kick off their La Liga campaign this weekend after being forced to sit out the opening round. Several of their stars were delayed returning from international duty following the World Cup, so the Basques have only now been able to assemble a full squad. Sevilla, meanwhile, already have three points in the bag after snatching a dramatic 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano deep into stoppage time. Now they face a trip to San Mamés, a stadium where they haven’t tasted victory since 2023.
The Lions went unbeaten through their first six preseason fixtures, racking up an eye-catching 25 goals in the process. That tally, however, must be taken with a pinch of salt: the opposition was modest, and 11 of those strikes came against fifth‑tier side Leyoa in a single 11‑0 thrashing. Once the quality of opponents improved, results took a dip. Athletic were beaten 3-1 by Marseille, a result coach Edin Terzić honestly admitted the French side fully deserved. Their final warm‑up against Atalanta ended in a more competitive but still narrow 0‑1 defeat. In short, the team lost their two most meaningful friendlies.
Key departures this summer include Mikel Vesga, a near‑decade‑long servant who featured regularly in the rotation, and Unai Gómez, a versatile option who played 26 La Liga matches last season. Further complications arose from the late return of the club’s World Cup winners: they only underwent medical tests on August 10. Unai Simón did feature against Atalanta, but Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams were absent from that final friendly. Both are now back in group training, yet they head into the first round with zero preseason minutes under their belts. First‑choice centre‑back Dani Vivian is definitely out, still recovering from an adductor injury, while Ádama Boiro trained separately after the Atalanta game and remains doubtful for the Sevilla clash.
Sevilla’s preseason was largely encouraging. The Rojiblancos played eight matches, winning five inside 90 minutes, losing two, and drawing one—a game they eventually won on penalties. Defensive solidity improved as the season approached: they kept a clean sheet against Utrecht, conceded only once to the attacking‑minded NEC Nijmegen (winning 2‑1), and held Bayer Leverkusen scoreless until the 66th minute before eventually falling 2‑1. In their actual league opener against Rayo, Sevilla were poor for the first half‑hour and quickly fell behind. But they regrouped, stifled the opponent’s creativity, and despite being reduced to ten men late on, snatched a 97th‑minute winner—a display of grit and character.
The summer window saw several important figures leave: Juanlu Sánchez (key right‑sided option), Djibril Sow (starting midfielder), and top scorer Akor Adams (10 La Liga goals last season). Loanee holding midfielder Batista Mendy also returned to his parent club, and experienced heads Alexis Sánchez, César Azpilicueta, and Nemanja Gudelj moved on. Some new arrivals have already made an impact. Jon Guridi scored against Rayo, Roberto Yr won the decisive penalty, and goalkeeper Vlachodimos earned man‑of‑the‑match nods from several outlets. On the downside, debutant Arouna Sangaté’s error led to Rayo’s goal. The club is close to signing Sporting CP midfielder Georgiy Kochorashvili and hopes to register him in time for this fixture. A major absence for the trip to Bilbao is Kike Salas, suspended after his red card against Rayo.
Athletic Bilbao (4-2-3-1): Simón – Areso, Álvarez, Laporte, Berchiche – Galarreta, Jauregizar – I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams – Sannadi Unavailable: Vivian, Egiluz (both injured), Boiro (doubtful) Coach: Edin Terzić
Sevilla (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos – J. Iglesias, Sangaté, Castrín, Suaso – Agoumé, Jon Peke – Sierra, Guridi, Vargas – Romero Unavailable: Alfon, Marcão (both injured), Salas (suspended), Ejuke, Pedrosa, Cardoso (all coach’s decision) Coach: Luis García Plaza
Main pick: Athletic Bilbao to win at 1.74
Athletic approach this match with a nearly full squad. The World Cup returnees—Simón, Laporte, and Nico Williams—have been training with the group since August 11. San Mamés provides a formidable backdrop: in three of their last four home league meetings with Sevilla, the Basques have come out on top. Sevilla, by contrast, had a difficult first match against Rayo, needing a 97th‑minute winner to snatch the points, and now travel without first‑choice centre‑back Kike Salas due to suspension. All signs point to a home victory.
Both teams to score: Yes at 2.07
Sevilla have found the net in each of their last five matches across all competitions. Athletic should sharpen their attack now that Nico Williams is available. Last season the two sides exchanged goals in both La Liga meetings, and high‑scoring encounters between them are nothing new. With the hosts’ offensive potential and the visitors’ scoring streak, backing both teams to find the net looks a solid play.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
Athletic4-2-3-1
Sevilla4-2-3-1Athletic Bilbao's home clash with Sevilla today isn't going to produce a home victory. I'm backing the draw at 3.70.
Athletic Bilbao kick off their La Liga campaign on the back of three straight friendly losses, but those results are misleading since the team wasn't fielding its strongest lineup. Today, the Basques will be at full strength, with key attackers Williams, Guruzeta, and Sancet all available to drive the offense. At home, Athletic have won seven of their last twenty matches, drawing four and losing nine. They've scored at least once in twelve of their last eighteen games and have conceded at home in thirteen of their last seventeen. Both teams have found the net in nine of their last nineteen matches involving Athletic.
Sevilla started the season with a home win over Rayo Vallecano, but that was a tightly contested game that could have gone either way. Now they face a much tougher test on the road. Away from home, Sevilla have won just four of their last twelve matches, with one draw and seven losses. They've scored in fourteen of their last twenty away games but have conceded in sixteen of their last nineteen. Both teams have scored in half of Sevilla's last twenty fixtures. In four of the last six head-to-head meetings between these sides, Athletic have come out on top. With the home side's attack clicking and Sevilla's shaky away defense, I'm backing a 2-1 win for Athletic.
The opening round of LaLiga produced a bizarrely low corner count for both Athletic and Sevilla—just three combined. That’s an anomaly. Their head-to-head history tells a different story: seven of the last eight meetings cleared 9.5 corners, and the eighth landed on nine. That’s an 87.5% hit rate. At 1.82, backing over 9.5 corners offers clear value. I expect another 8–9 corners here, keeping that reliable trend intact.
Other bets like under 2.5 goals or no on both teams scoring have lost appeal after two high-scoring H2H matches. A draw, 1-1, or Sevilla not to lose (around 2.2–2.3) are interesting, but yellow cards are too inconsistent to touch. So I’m locking in corners over 9.5 at 1.82.
Athletic will score at least two goals at home against Sevilla. I'm backing them to do so confidently at 2.00 odds.
Athletic and Sevilla meet in LaLiga, and I’m backing the total corners to stay under 10.5. Sevilla are consistently weak when it comes to winning corners, and that pattern should hold here. The odds at 1.51 reflect a solid probability, and I see no reason to expect a high-volume corner count in this matchup.
This is a classic early-season LaLiga clash where I see goals being at a premium. Athletic Club are still finding their rhythm, and their current form doesn't suggest a goal-fest. I'm backing the Under 1.5 goals market here at a very attractive price of 2.85.
Athletic and Sevilla both have firepower up front, so I’m backing goals from both sides. This LaLiga clash on August 22 looks set to deliver, with each team capable of finding the net. I’m taking both teams to score at 2.07.
Athletic against Sevilla has the makings of a tight, low-scoring affair — I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends 0-0. That’s why I’m backing under 1.5 goals at 2.85.
Athletic might have home advantage, but I’m not buying them as clear favorites here. Sevilla look just as solid, and I’d be foolish to underestimate them.
That’s why I’m backing the double chance on X2 at 2.17. The visitors have enough quality to avoid defeat, and this price offers real value for a side that can easily snatch a point or all three.
This Athletic vs Sevilla matchup kicks off the season with both teams still full of energy, and I’m expecting a goal-filled affair. Early in the campaign, players are fresh and attacks tend to flow freely—that’s why I’m backing over 2.5 goals at 2.25.
Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla are set to face off in LaLiga, and I fully expect both sides to find the net. This matchup has all the ingredients for an open exchange of goals, so backing both teams to score at 2.08 looks like a solid play.
In the Athletic vs Sevilla match, my pick is the home side to take more than 5.5 corners. The price of 1.75 is attractive.
I'm confident this team will win this match. The chances are roughly equal, but that's exactly why I see value here.
Athletic and Sevilla have a history of trading goals when they meet, and I don't see that changing here. Both sides are capable in attack and tend to leave space at the back, which should lead to scoring chances at both ends. The odds of 2.08 offer solid value for a bet that has landed in several of their recent encounters. I'm backing both teams to find the net in this LaLiga clash.
Let's talk corners in this Athletic vs. Sevilla match. The market is forcing me into picks I'm not entirely sure about, so I'm focusing on what I do know: Sevilla absolutely hates corners and generates very few of them. That's a solid foundation.
The only question is how Athletic will play at home. Will they push aggressively and rack up corners on their own, or will the match stay compact? Given Sevilla's lack of contribution, the Under 10.5 line at 1.51 looks like the smart play. I'm confident a low-volume corner game is on the cards.
Athletic will take charge of this LaLiga fixture, and I don't see Sevilla breaking through. Backing "Both teams to score — No" at 1.67 is the straightforward call here.
Athletic Bilbao have a real opportunity to improve their record here. I’m taking them with a -1.5 handicap at 2.99—that’s the line that reflects my confidence in a comfortable home win against Sevilla.
Athletic’s back line has been leaking goals all season — 27 of their last 28 matches ended with at least one concession. That pattern is too strong to ignore, so I’m backing Sevilla to find the net. At 1.71, the price for the visitors to score is well worth taking.
Athletic and Sevilla meet in LaLiga — and I’m expecting goals from both sides. The bet is both teams to score at 2.08, and I see the total climbing past three as well. Simple: both teams have enough firepower to find the net, so this price looks too good to pass up.
Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla meet for their second LaLiga match at San Mamés, and I see a clear path to both teams scoring here. The head-to-head history supports that — six of their last ten encounters saw goals at both ends, with four of the last five following the same script. Last season’s results also underline the trend: Athletic won 3-2 at home, and Sevilla replied with a 2-1 victory away. Both sides know how to crack each other’s defenses.
The defensive situation makes it even more compelling. Athletic are missing captain Dani Vivian and Unai Egilus through injury, forcing an experimental backline, while players like Lesama are still shaking off preseason rust. Sevilla have their own issues — Kike Salas is suspended, and Marcão is a doubt. That leaves both rearguards vulnerable, and with Athletic’s attacking firepower through the Williams brothers and the in-form Gorka Guruzeta, plus Sevilla’s proven ability to score on the road after their first-round showing, I’m confident we’ll see goals from both sides. Tactically, Athletic’s possession-heavy approach with wide full-backs will leave space for Sevilla’s quick transitions, and that imbalance should produce chances at both ends. Likely scorelines are 2-1 or 1-1, with no scenario I can envision where either side fails to find the net.
Athletic Bilbao hosting Sevilla in LaLiga — this has the makings of a classic 1-1 draw. Both sides have the attacking quality to find the net, and their defensive setups aren't exactly impenetrable. I'm backing both teams to score here at 2.08.
I see Athletic's defense as particularly exposed here. Their high-pressing style under Terzic is still a work in progress after the preseason, and the recent test matches have already raised red flags about how shaky they'll be at the start of La Liga.
Sevilla have the edge in match sharpness, having begun their season earlier. Athletic, meanwhile, have three World Cup winners who joined the squad only 10 days ago, so they're far from peak condition. Last season, Sevilla's attack nearly beat Athletic on their own turf (2–3) and comfortably won at home (3–1), proving the Basque side's defensive fragility isn't new. Given that history and the current fitness gap, I'm fully backing the visitors to find the net again.
Athletic and Sevilla are on a very similar level right now, so I don't see a clear advantage for either side. A draw is the most logical outcome here, and at 3.72, the odds offer solid value for a match that could easily end all square.
Sevilla are set to give their absolute best against Athletic in this LaLiga fixture. I see no reason they'll leave empty-handed — they have what it takes to avoid defeat. The double chance X2 is my pick.
This LaLiga clash between Athletic and Sevilla has all the signs of a high-scoring affair. I'm backing both teams to find the net, as I'm fully expecting an open game with plenty of chances at both ends.
Recent head-to-head meetings between Athletic and Sevilla have consistently produced corner counts north of 9.5. In the last five matchups, the numbers have backed that trend, and I see no reason to expect a drop-off here. That’s why I’m confidently taking the over on corners.
Sevilla are well equipped to avoid defeat at San Mamés. Backing the double chance at 2.19 is the smart move — I see them holding Athletic to a draw at the very least.
Athletic hosting Sevilla in LaLiga is a clear mismatch on paper. The Basque side have the quality and home advantage to dictate the tempo, while Sevilla look vulnerable on the road. I’m backing the hosts to secure the three points here.
Athletic Bilbao's home clash with Sevilla today isn't going to produce a home victory. I'm backing the draw at 3.70.
Athletic and Sevilla are on a very similar level right now, so I don't see a clear advantage for either side. A draw is the most logical outcome here, and at 3.72, the odds offer solid value for a match that could easily end all square.
Athletic hosting Sevilla in LaLiga is a clear mismatch on paper. The Basque side have the quality and home advantage to dictate the tempo, while Sevilla look vulnerable on the road. I’m backing the hosts to secure the three points here.
Athletic might have home advantage, but I’m not buying them as clear favorites here. Sevilla look just as solid, and I’d be foolish to underestimate them.
That’s why I’m backing the double chance on X2 at 2.17. The visitors have enough quality to avoid defeat, and this price offers real value for a side that can easily snatch a point or all three.
Sevilla are set to give their absolute best against Athletic in this LaLiga fixture. I see no reason they'll leave empty-handed — they have what it takes to avoid defeat. The double chance X2 is my pick.
Sevilla are well equipped to avoid defeat at San Mamés. Backing the double chance at 2.19 is the smart move — I see them holding Athletic to a draw at the very least.
The opening round of LaLiga produced a bizarrely low corner count for both Athletic and Sevilla—just three combined. That’s an anomaly. Their head-to-head history tells a different story: seven of the last eight meetings cleared 9.5 corners, and the eighth landed on nine. That’s an 87.5% hit rate. At 1.82, backing over 9.5 corners offers clear value. I expect another 8–9 corners here, keeping that reliable trend intact.
Other bets like under 2.5 goals or no on both teams scoring have lost appeal after two high-scoring H2H matches. A draw, 1-1, or Sevilla not to lose (around 2.2–2.3) are interesting, but yellow cards are too inconsistent to touch. So I’m locking in corners over 9.5 at 1.82.
Athletic will score at least two goals at home against Sevilla. I'm backing them to do so confidently at 2.00 odds.
This Athletic vs Sevilla matchup kicks off the season with both teams still full of energy, and I’m expecting a goal-filled affair. Early in the campaign, players are fresh and attacks tend to flow freely—that’s why I’m backing over 2.5 goals at 2.25.
In the Athletic vs Sevilla match, my pick is the home side to take more than 5.5 corners. The price of 1.75 is attractive.
Athletic’s back line has been leaking goals all season — 27 of their last 28 matches ended with at least one concession. That pattern is too strong to ignore, so I’m backing Sevilla to find the net. At 1.71, the price for the visitors to score is well worth taking.
I see Athletic's defense as particularly exposed here. Their high-pressing style under Terzic is still a work in progress after the preseason, and the recent test matches have already raised red flags about how shaky they'll be at the start of La Liga.
Sevilla have the edge in match sharpness, having begun their season earlier. Athletic, meanwhile, have three World Cup winners who joined the squad only 10 days ago, so they're far from peak condition. Last season, Sevilla's attack nearly beat Athletic on their own turf (2–3) and comfortably won at home (3–1), proving the Basque side's defensive fragility isn't new. Given that history and the current fitness gap, I'm fully backing the visitors to find the net again.
Recent head-to-head meetings between Athletic and Sevilla have consistently produced corner counts north of 9.5. In the last five matchups, the numbers have backed that trend, and I see no reason to expect a drop-off here. That’s why I’m confidently taking the over on corners.
Athletic and Sevilla meet in LaLiga, and I’m backing the total corners to stay under 10.5. Sevilla are consistently weak when it comes to winning corners, and that pattern should hold here. The odds at 1.51 reflect a solid probability, and I see no reason to expect a high-volume corner count in this matchup.
This is a classic early-season LaLiga clash where I see goals being at a premium. Athletic Club are still finding their rhythm, and their current form doesn't suggest a goal-fest. I'm backing the Under 1.5 goals market here at a very attractive price of 2.85.
Athletic against Sevilla has the makings of a tight, low-scoring affair — I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends 0-0. That’s why I’m backing under 1.5 goals at 2.85.
I'm confident this team will win this match. The chances are roughly equal, but that's exactly why I see value here.
Let's talk corners in this Athletic vs. Sevilla match. The market is forcing me into picks I'm not entirely sure about, so I'm focusing on what I do know: Sevilla absolutely hates corners and generates very few of them. That's a solid foundation.
The only question is how Athletic will play at home. Will they push aggressively and rack up corners on their own, or will the match stay compact? Given Sevilla's lack of contribution, the Under 10.5 line at 1.51 looks like the smart play. I'm confident a low-volume corner game is on the cards.
Athletic Bilbao have a real opportunity to improve their record here. I’m taking them with a -1.5 handicap at 2.99—that’s the line that reflects my confidence in a comfortable home win against Sevilla.
Athletic and Sevilla both have firepower up front, so I’m backing goals from both sides. This LaLiga clash on August 22 looks set to deliver, with each team capable of finding the net. I’m taking both teams to score at 2.07.
Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla are set to face off in LaLiga, and I fully expect both sides to find the net. This matchup has all the ingredients for an open exchange of goals, so backing both teams to score at 2.08 looks like a solid play.
Athletic and Sevilla have a history of trading goals when they meet, and I don't see that changing here. Both sides are capable in attack and tend to leave space at the back, which should lead to scoring chances at both ends. The odds of 2.08 offer solid value for a bet that has landed in several of their recent encounters. I'm backing both teams to find the net in this LaLiga clash.
Athletic will take charge of this LaLiga fixture, and I don't see Sevilla breaking through. Backing "Both teams to score — No" at 1.67 is the straightforward call here.
Athletic and Sevilla meet in LaLiga — and I’m expecting goals from both sides. The bet is both teams to score at 2.08, and I see the total climbing past three as well. Simple: both teams have enough firepower to find the net, so this price looks too good to pass up.
Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla meet for their second LaLiga match at San Mamés, and I see a clear path to both teams scoring here. The head-to-head history supports that — six of their last ten encounters saw goals at both ends, with four of the last five following the same script. Last season’s results also underline the trend: Athletic won 3-2 at home, and Sevilla replied with a 2-1 victory away. Both sides know how to crack each other’s defenses.
The defensive situation makes it even more compelling. Athletic are missing captain Dani Vivian and Unai Egilus through injury, forcing an experimental backline, while players like Lesama are still shaking off preseason rust. Sevilla have their own issues — Kike Salas is suspended, and Marcão is a doubt. That leaves both rearguards vulnerable, and with Athletic’s attacking firepower through the Williams brothers and the in-form Gorka Guruzeta, plus Sevilla’s proven ability to score on the road after their first-round showing, I’m confident we’ll see goals from both sides. Tactically, Athletic’s possession-heavy approach with wide full-backs will leave space for Sevilla’s quick transitions, and that imbalance should produce chances at both ends. Likely scorelines are 2-1 or 1-1, with no scenario I can envision where either side fails to find the net.
Athletic Bilbao hosting Sevilla in LaLiga — this has the makings of a classic 1-1 draw. Both sides have the attacking quality to find the net, and their defensive setups aren't exactly impenetrable. I'm backing both teams to score here at 2.08.
This LaLiga clash between Athletic and Sevilla has all the signs of a high-scoring affair. I'm backing both teams to find the net, as I'm fully expecting an open game with plenty of chances at both ends.
Athletic Bilbao kick off their La Liga campaign on the back of three straight friendly losses, but those results are misleading since the team wasn't fielding its strongest lineup. Today, the Basques will be at full strength, with key attackers Williams, Guruzeta, and Sancet all available to drive the offense. At home, Athletic have won seven of their last twenty matches, drawing four and losing nine. They've scored at least once in twelve of their last eighteen games and have conceded at home in thirteen of their last seventeen. Both teams have found the net in nine of their last nineteen matches involving Athletic.
Sevilla started the season with a home win over Rayo Vallecano, but that was a tightly contested game that could have gone either way. Now they face a much tougher test on the road. Away from home, Sevilla have won just four of their last twelve matches, with one draw and seven losses. They've scored in fourteen of their last twenty away games but have conceded in sixteen of their last nineteen. Both teams have scored in half of Sevilla's last twenty fixtures. In four of the last six head-to-head meetings between these sides, Athletic have come out on top. With the home side's attack clicking and Sevilla's shaky away defense, I'm backing a 2-1 win for Athletic.
The match is scheduled for August 22, 2026, at 16:00 at San Mamés in Bilbao.
The main pick is Athletic Bilbao to win, with odds around 1.74.
Athletic have key World Cup returnees back in training, and they have won three of their last four home league meetings with Sevilla. Sevilla, meanwhile, are without suspended center-back Kike Salas.
Yes, Sevilla are missing Kike Salas due to a red-card suspension, as well as injured players Alfon and Marcão.
Both teams to score is recommended at odds of 2.07, as Sevilla have scored in each of their last five matches and Athletic’s attack should improve with Nico Williams available.