Athletic Bilbao's Alarming Slide: Worst 31-Game Form in 14 Years
Athletic Club is staring at their worst 31-game run in 14 years after racking up 15 defeats in La Liga this season. With seven matches left, the Basque giants are stuck in mid-table and desperately need a late surge to avoid the kind of collapse that could leave fans questioning the entire campaign. This isn't just a blip — it's a statistical low point that echoes back to the turbulent days of Marcelo Bielsa.
How Bad Is This Season?
Let's put the numbers in perspective. After 31 games, Athletic have lost 15 times. Compare that to the last two seasons under Ernesto Valverde: they had only four defeats at this stage in 2024/25 and six in 2023/24. That kind of drop-off is alarming for a club that's been building toward European contention.
The last time Athletic looked this shaky after 31 matches was way back in 2012/13. That season, Bielsa's team had 16 losses and sat on 35 points. They barely escaped relegation with a late run of 10 points from their final seven games. This year, Athletic are stuck in 12th place — a position that feels increasingly unsafe as the season winds down.
What's Gone Wrong This Time?
This season's struggles aren't happening in a vacuum. Several factors have combined to derail what many hoped would be a steady campaign:
- The prolonged summer saga around Nico Williams created uncertainty during pre-season
- Injuries have hit hard across multiple competitions (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and European tournaments)
- Despite adding quality players like Aymeric Laporte, Unai Areso, and Robert Navarro, the squad hasn't gelled as expected
But it's not all doom and gloom. After a visible rift during the Villarreal match, the club took steps to reconnect with fans — slashing ticket prices for San Mamés and having Valverde and Yuri Berchiche publicly call for unity. These moves show the club recognizes the need to stabilize both on and off the pitch.
Echoes of Bielsa's Era
The comparison to the 2012/13 season is unavoidable. Back then, Bielsa had taken Athletic to the Europa League and Copa del Rey finals in his first year (2011/12), but the emotional and physical toll led to a crash the following season. Key players like Javi Martínez and Fernando Llorente departed, sparking a crisis that saw Llorente even watching games from the stands before his Juventus move.
Today's situation is different — Athletic aren't coming off two cup finals — but the fear of a similar unraveling is real. The club set an early target of 42 points for safety, a figure that seemed low when Europe was still in sight. Now, with nerves fraying, reaching that mark quickly is critical to avoid a repeat of history.
The Road Ahead: Pressure Mounts
With seven games left, Athletic must turn things around fast. The early safety target of 42 points — initially downplayed by some as too conservative — now looks like a lifeline. Every point matters as the club battles to avoid a late-season nosedive that could damage morale and momentum heading into next year.
Valverde's experience in navigating tough patches will be crucial. But the manager needs the squad to rediscover the resilience that defined their last two seasons. The return of key players from injury and the settling of the Nico Williams situation (he's now committed) offer glimmers of hope. However, time is running out.
Key Takeaways
- Athletic Bilbao's 15 defeats in 31 La Liga games mark their worst 31-game record in 14 years, putting mid-table security at risk
- Factors like the Nico Williams saga, injuries, and squad integration issues have contributed to the slump, despite some positive additions
- The club has taken steps to calm tensions, including ticket price cuts and public unity calls, but the focus must now shift to on-pitch results
- With seven matches left, reaching the 42-point safety target quickly is essential to avoid a repeat of the 2012/13 relegation scrap
— Editorial Team
