Athletic Bilbao Faces Challenges Following Champions League Exit

The aftermath of the Champions League has taken a toll on Athletic Bilbao. The team abruptly halted the positive momentum gained from their comeback against Atalanta (2-3) and faced a setback during their visit to Pizjuán, where fears instilled by Sevilla became evident.

Currently, Athletic finds itself with 24 points in the standings, having accumulated just one point from the last five league matches. The upcoming derby against Real Sociedad on the first Saturday of February becomes crucial, as the team has not won a league match since their victory over Atlético on December 6.

This situation is particularly concerning for Athletic, which has already suffered 11 defeats this season, indicating that they have lost more than half of their matches. They share the same number of losses as Sevilla and are on par with three teams currently facing relegation.

What does coach Valverde convey to the squad? Robert Navarro, who scored against Sevilla, revealed, “We need to step up because so much is at stake, and we are competing with several teams in this area.” Athletic is beginning to reassess its objectives and priorities as a misstep could lead to a precarious end to the season. Navarro added, “We are entering a phase where we need to accumulate points because we have yet to find our rhythm.”

Athletic will now set aside their league disappointments as they focus on their Champions League ambitions this Wednesday, where a win would secure them a place in the round of 16. However, the attention will soon return to La Liga with an intense schedule ahead: first against Real Sociedad at San Mamés, followed by a home match against Levante. Upcoming opponents also include Oviedo, Elche, and Rayo before they host Barcelona. In between, they face Valencia in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on February 4, with the possibility of advancing to the semi-finals, which will be played over two legs.