- Villarreal CF has won 6, drawn 3 and lost 6 of their 15 away LaLiga 2025-2026 fixtures, averaging 1.33 goals per game scored and 1.47 per game conceded.
- Athletic Bilbao has won 8, drawn 2 and lost 5 of their 15 home LaLiga 2025-2026 fixtures, conceding 17 goals.
- Villarreal CF has failed to win on their last two visits to Athletic Bilbao.
Athletic Bilbao in poor form ahead of Villarreal CF visit
Athletic Bilbao are on a five-game streak of 1 win and 4 losses in LaLiga 2025/2026 and are unlikely to cause Villarreal CF too many problems on Sunday when the visitors arrive in the Basque Country.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have been playing in an aggressive, high-tempo style, pressing opponents and looking for quick transitions to get at them on the counter-attack. Athletic have been successful at home with 8 wins from 15 games but have lost 5 and conceded 17 goals at San Mamés.
The only win in Athletic Bilbao’s last 5 came at home to Real Betis (2-1) but they lost away to Getafe (2-0) just three days ago. Striker Gorka Guruzeta has been their main outlet, finding the back of the net 6 times in 27 appearances in LaLiga 2025/2026.
Villarreal’s superior form and head-to-head record suggests they can take all three points
Villarreal CF’s recent form has been mixed with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in their last 5 LaLiga 2025/2026 outings but they are third in the table with 58 points from 30 games, compared to Athletic Bilbao in 11th with 38 from the same number of rounds.
Marcelino Garcia’s men are superior tacticians and have been in control since his arrival, with the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems he employs ensuring central midfield dominance and a patient, possession-based style of play through the middle.
Their attack can become a threat if they can get their wings working and their attacking players have space to move.
Alberto Moleiro leads the team in the goals tables with 9 in 29 appearances, but it is Santi Comesana who has been the most creative, with 3 assists in the last 5 LaLiga 2025/2026 matches.
The head-to-head between these two sides is even, with Athletic Bilbao claiming the win twice in the last 5, Villarreal CF winning once and two draws in the period. We are taking Villarreal to take the points on Sunday as their form and position in the LaLiga 2025-2026 table suggests they have the quality and confidence to do so.
Athletic Bilbao’s only positive result in their last 5 came at home against a poor Betis side and Villarreal’s defeat at Girona was away. We feel Villarreal can snatch the points here with an over 2.5 goals line and Both Teams to Score - No, as Athletic’s pressing game can lead to some high-scoring encounters and Villarreal’s solid defence should be able to shut the hosts out.
