🏏 Sun, 17 May 2026 19:00 CEST
Athletic Club
vs
Celta Vigo
4-2-3-1 vs 3-4-3
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- On the final matchday, 10th-place Athletic Bilbao (44 points) host 6th-place Celta Vigo (50 points). Hosts Bilbao have struggled with two wins and three losses in their last five matches (W-L-W-L-L), most notably suffering a 0-2 defeat to Espanyol in the previous round. Celta have also lacked form, going 2 wins and 3 losses in their last five (L-L-W-W-L) and falling 2-3 to Levante last time out.
- In the season's first meeting on matchday 16, Celta cruised to a 2-0 home win, so this is a chance for Bilbao to gain revenge. The two sides are separated by six points, and the result here could significantly reshape the final standings. A win would secure 6th place for Celta and keep them in the race for a Europa League berth.
- Bilbao line up in a 4-2-3-1 and Celta in a 3-4-3, with the battle for midfield control a particular focal point. Bilbao's double pivot pairs 22-year-old playmaker Mikel Jauregizar with the experienced 31-year-old Luis de Galarreta, while Celta counter with 23-year-old La Masia graduate Ilaix Moriba and left-footed Celta academy product Fer Lopez.
- Bilbao's standout is former France international centre-back Aymeric Laporte (30), who won European honours at Manchester City. His accurate long passing from the left foot underpins their build-up. Ghana captain Inaki Williams, holder of an iron-man appearance record, looks to make breakthroughs from the right wing.
- Celta's 38-year-old legend Iago Aspas starts on the bench, but the left-footed finisher who holds the club's all-time scoring record remains a threat. Up front, Ferran Jutgla (27), who joined from Club Brugge in 2025, partners Borja Iglesias (31), a title-winner with Betis and Leverkusen.
- A reunion with a former club is another talking point: Celta left-back Marcos Alonso (35) once came through Real Madrid's youth ranks before collecting trophies at Chelsea and Barcelona. Athletic also feature several Barcelona academy graduates, making the meeting of Catalan-raised players one to watch.