Matchday 23 in the La Liga between Athletic Bilbao and Levante will take place on 8 February at the San Mames in Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao vs Levante: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Athletic Bilbao
On the first day of the month, Athletic Bilbao snatched a draw at the very end of the home derby against Real Sociedad (1:1). On the one hand, Athletic Bilbao deserve credit for their fighting spirit, but the team’s winless run in La Liga has stretched even further and now stands at six matches (two draws, four defeats). The Basque club have not endured a run like this in the competition since October–December 2021. Despite all their problems, the club are still holding on to a mid-table position, but the gap to the relegation zone is now only three points. Another couple of poor results could seriously worsen Athletic Bilbao’s situation.
- Both teams have scored in the last five league games involving the Basque side in the Spanish top flight.
- At least two goals have been scored in six straight matches for the club in this competition.
- Athletic Bilbao have conceded in seven of their last nine home games in La Liga.
Potential Athletic Bilbao Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Unai Simon – Jesus Areso, Aitor Paredes, Adama Boiro, Yuri Berchiche – Mikel Jauregizar, Alejandro Rego – Nico Williams, Unai Gomez, Alex Berenguer – Gorka Guruzeta.
Due to injuries, defender Unai Egiluz, midfielders Oihan Sancet and Benat Prados, and striker Maroan Sannadi will not be available.
Levante
Levante are locked in a desperate fight for survival, and we have seen clear progress from them lately. For example, a week ago Levante managed to hold Atletico Madrid to a 0:0 draw. As a result, the Valencian side have taken at least one point in five of their last six league matches (two wins, three draws), with the club only losing in that spell away at Real Madrid (0:2). However, most of their rivals are also picking up form and improving their results, so Levante remain five points adrift of the safe 17th place. It is important to remember, though, that the team still have a game in hand.
- No more than two goals have been scored in seven of the club’s last nine La Liga matches.
- The Valencian side’s uncompromising away run in this competition has reached five matches (one win, four defeats).
- Levante have not scored more than one goal in 11 of their last 13 La Liga games.
Potential Levante Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Mathew Ryan – Jeremy Toljan, Adri, Alan Matturro, Matias Moreno – Hugo Raguber, Pablo Martinez – Karim Tunde, Carlos Alvarez Rivera, Iker Losada – Ivan Romero.
Midfielder Roger Brugue and defender Victor Garcia are unavailable due to injuries. The participation of defenders Matias Moreno and Diego Pampin is in doubt.
Referee
Alejandro Muniz Ruiz (Spain)
Matches – 9 (La Liga, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 47;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.2;
Red cards shown – 2;
Fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 44%.
Athletic Bilbao vs Levante: Match Prediction
Athletic Bilbao are sitting in mid-table, but based on their current form they deserve to be noticeably lower. For the first time in four years, the team have gone six La Liga matches without a win, with four of those six ending in defeat. It is worth noting that since the start of the current season, the club have managed just seven wins from 22 La Liga matchdays, and even in their good games it has usually been tight.
Over the last six months, Athletic Bilbao have beaten an opponent by a margin of two or more goals only once. It is symbolic that the side they beat in that way was Levante, but at the time the visitors were going through a serious crisis under a different coach. Now the Valencian side have improved and have lost only one of their last six league matches. During that run, the club failed to pick up any points only away at Real Madrid. Athletic Bilbao are among Levante’s awkward opponents, but across the last 12 head-to-head meetings in La Liga there have been only three occasions when Levante have lost by more than one goal.
Most likely, the new match in Bilbao will also be a tightly contested battle.
Prediction: Levante (+1.5)
* For each team, the starting XI from their previous match in this competition is listed.
