Preview:Real Betis vs Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team news, lineups

Athletic Bilbao will be aiming to make it three straight wins at the start of their 2025-26 La Liga campaign when they travel to Seville on Sunday to tackle Real Betis.

The visitors are fifth in the La Liga table, boasting six points from two matches, while their hosts have played three times this term, with five points leaving them in sixth spot in the division.

Match preview

Real Betis played the third match of their 2025-26 La Liga campaign on Wednesday, drawing 1-1 with Celta Vigo, with that game brought forward due to the fact that both sides will compete in the Europa League league phase.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have picked up five points from their first three matches, having opened their season with a 1-1 draw against Elche before beating Alaves 1-0 on home soil, and they are currently sixth in the division.

The Seville outfit finished sixth in La Liga last term, and they are again expected to challenge for a European spot in the current season, while a run deep into the Europa League cannot be ruled out.

Real Betis held Athletic to draws in both La Liga matches last season, including a 2-2 on home soil, while they have only lost one of their last seven top-flight meetings with the Basque outfit.

Athletic's last success over Real Betis was in August 2023, but they have not managed to beat the Green and Whites in Seville in the top flight of Spanish football since December 2017.

Athletic have six points to show from their first two matches of the season, beating Sevilla 3-2 in their opener before recording a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano last time out.

Ernesto Valverde's side will play in the league phase of this season's Champions League, with matches confirmed against Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Sporting Lisbon, Qarabag, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, Atalanta BC and Slavia Prague.

It will be interesting to see how the Lions, who finished fourth in 2024-25, balance domestic and European football this term, but they will again be expected to be in and around the top four in the league this season.

Athletic are restricted with what they can do in the transfer market due to the Basque-only rule, but they have managed to bring in two new players in the shape of Jesus Areso and Robert Navarro.

Meanwhile, the club have managed to sign star man Nico Williams to a new contract, with the Spain international once again believed to have turned down the chance to make the move to Barcelona.

Real Betis La Liga form:

DWD

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

Team News

Real Betis have a number of players unavailable for selection, with Isco, Nelson Deossa, Abde Ezzalzouli, Diego Llorente and Aitor Ruibal definitely on the sidelines through injury.

Meanwhile, Pau Lopez and Marc Roca are also expected to miss out this weekend.

Pablo Garcia could be introduced in a wide area for Real Betis, but Giovani Lo Celso is again in line to play as the number 10 in Isco's absence, while Cucho Hernandez should continue through the middle.

As for Athletic, Unai Egiluz and Inigo Lekue will miss the contest due to injury problems.

There are unlikely to be any surprises when it comes to the Basque side's XI for this match, but there could be a change in the final third of the field, with Oihan Sancet potentially being introduced.

Sancet for Maroan Sannadi is the most likely change, which would see Alex Berenguer pushed into the centre-forward spot, leaving Inaki Williams and Nico Williams in the wide areas.

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Bellerin, Natan, Bartra, Firpo; Altimira, Fornals; P Garcia, Lo Celso, Riquelme; C Hernandez

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; Areso, Paredes, Vivian, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Berenguer

We say: Real Betis 2-2 Athletic Bilbao

This has all of the makings of a very interesting match, and we are expecting entertainment on Sunday. Athletic will be aiming for a third straight win, but Real Betis are unbeaten this season, and we can see the points being shared in a 2-2 draw.

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