European places are already part of the horizon in Bilbao as Athletic Club host Alavés in the first Basque derby of the season, with Edin Terzic’s side seeking to turn a strong September into a sustained push towards continental football. San Mamés welcomed the teams for Saturday’s LaLiga seventh-round meeting, scheduled for 16:15, while Alavés arrived determined to halt a difficult sequence before the international break.
Key takeaways
- Athletic had collected seven points from their previous three league matches after a poor opening to the campaign.
- Alavés came into the derby on the back of two successive defeats, against Racing and Valencia.
- Terzic made four changes from the side used against Elche, with Aitor Paredes, Jean-Louis Johaneko and Mikel Jauregizar among the incoming players.
- Quique Sánchez Flores also altered four positions, bringing Ander Guevara, Carlos Protesoni, Jonny Otto and Mariano into his starting side.
- Víctor García Verdura was appointed referee, with Diego Sánchez Rojo operating on VAR duty.
A derby with Europe in the background
The early weeks had left Athletic searching for answers, but September has changed the mood around Terzic’s project. Two wins and a draw lifted the Bilbao club to the edge of the European qualifying positions, making a home victory over their regional rivals especially significant for the weeks ahead.
Terzic urged perspective before his first derby as Athletic coach. “The direction is very good, but we are only at the beginning,” he said. While recognising the emotional weight of the occasion, he insisted that the fundamentals would not change: the goal remains in the same place, and the task is to keep improving rather than treat one opponent or venue differently.
He described Alavés as a well-built side with a strong coach, highlighting their frequent deliveries into the box, ability in duels and use of two forwards, often supported by five players in attacking areas. Athletic’s plan, he said, was to impose their own game and carry a threat in attack, combining respect for the visitors with the intention to be the better side.
For Sánchez Flores, the trip to Bilbao carried a special significance for Alavés supporters. His team had lost narrowly at Racing in El Sardinero and then 1-0 at home to Valencia, a result that left Nahuel Tenaglia calling for a return to the standard shown in the season’s opening matches. Antonio Blanco, Abde Rebbach, Denis Suárez and Ángel Pérez had also called on the squad to protect morale after the consecutive setbacks.
The Alavés coach said his players would travel “with all our strength and determination” to produce their best display. He pointed to last season’s win at San Mamés as proof that another positive result was possible, adding that the club would like to leave for the international break with a victory.
Sánchez Flores acknowledged that the side had placed considerable importance on its first two fixtures of the week because they were viewed as realistic opportunities to take points. Even so, he said the wider squad was capable and retained the coaching staff’s confidence.
Changes on both sides as San Mamés comes alive
Supporters of both clubs gathered in a festive atmosphere around La Catedral before kick-off, with the two fanbases sharing the streets of central Bilbao. Scarves rose as the 22 starters emerged from the tunnel, and Alavés took the opening possession.
Athletic began with Unai Simón in goal; Yuri, Aymeric Laporte, Paredes and Johaneko in defence; Jauregizar and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta in midfield; and Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Serrano and Iñaki Williams ahead.
Alavés selected Antonio Sivera; Tenaglia, Koski and Valentini; Otto, Guevara, Protesoni, Ibañez and Rebbach; with Lucas Boyé and Mariano leading the line.
The home side’s substitutes included Padilla, Prados, Berenguer, Areso, Rincón, Rego, Maroan, Gerenabarrena, Peio Canales and Djaló. Alavés had Rodríguez, Youssef, Suárez, Pérez, Blanco, Aleñà, Martínez, Novoa, Miguel, Diallo, Olaiz and Izei available from the bench.
Athletic established control in the opening moments. Johaneko escaped Boyé’s pressure near the touchline with a lifted touch after a difficult pass from Ruiz de Galarreta, before Sancet slipped Iñaki Williams through only for Sivera to recover when the forward could not bring the ball under control.
The match officials were assistant referees Fernando Román Román and Javier Iglesias Villanueva, fourth official Alejandro Quintero González, and VAR official Sánchez Rojo.
Elsewhere in Athletic’s schedule, the postponed away fixture against Levante has been rearranged for Wednesday 21 October at 20:00 at the Ciutat. Severe weather in Valencia had previously prevented Maroan Sannadi from starting for Athletic, 350 days after his earlier inclusion against Borussia Dortmund. Canales trained with the group returning from Valencia at Lezama, while Djaló has again been called up by Guinea-Bissau.
