Athletic vs Girona Prediction for 24 September 2025 - Football

🔈 Have the clubs managed to bounce back from their recent setbacks in the last round? In addition to midweek European competitions, football fans will be treated to some Spanish action. The "San Mamés" stadium will host a clash between Athletic Club and Girona. Both teams have been disappointing with their recent results, making this upcoming encounter a great opportunity for them to strengthen their league positions. The standings, along with the home advantage, lead bookmakers to favor the Basque side with sixfold odds.

Head-to-Head

📊 The head-to-head history between these teams includes just 10 matches. Here's a breakdown of the outcomes: Athletic have claimed victory 5 times, there's been 1 draw, and Girona have secured 4 wins. Notably, Girona have only celebrated success in Bilbao once—during the 2022/23 La Liga season with a 3-2 win. Let's also highlight the average scoring in these encounters: Athletic average 2.2 goals per game, while Girona average 1 goal.

Athletic Bilbao Team Overview

⚪ After a promising start to the season, the Basques have hit a rough patch, suffering three consecutive defeats across all competitions. Ernesto Valverde's side has slipped to 8th place in the league standings, amassing 9 points from their first 5 matches. Moreover, in each of their last three outings, the Lions have failed to find the back of the net—results that Athletic's supporters certainly weren't expecting.

🔴 In their last match, the Basques endured a disappointing trip to the Mestalla, falling to Valencia (0-2). While Valverde's men maintained composure and control in the first half, Dani Vivian's red card in the 61st minute completely derailed their game plan. This forced the Lions into an uncharacteristically deep defensive block. Consequently, the Bats capitalized on individual errors by Athletic, scoring twice against Unai Simón.

Girona Team Overview

🔴 Girona's recent form is nothing short of dismal, with just one point from their opening five matches of the season. Their defensive record is even more concerning, conceding an average of about three goals per game—the worst in the league. As it stands, Michel's squad understandably sits at the bottom of the La Liga table. Astonishingly, Girona have managed only two away victories in official competitions in 2025, with the last one recorded back in May.

⚪ Last weekend, Girona fans who gathered at Montilivi witnessed a true debacle. Michel's side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to newly-promoted Levante. This match was yet another in which it was nearly impossible to discern Girona's intended style of play. Contributing to this chaos were the dismissals of Axel Witsel and Vitor Reis, leaving Girona to finish the game with just nine men by the 46th minute.

Latest news

Athletic Bilbao

🎤 At a recent press conference, Ernesto Valverde stated: "La Liga is our primary and most important goal. This competition reveals where you stand, who you are, and how you're performing this year, and it offers no respite. We've played poorly in recent matches, especially in attack. We haven't created enough chances to win, so in the upcoming match against Girona, our main objective is to rectify all the mistakes we've made. Scoring might be challenging, but our team spirit and attitude must always be top-notch. We're in a good position, but we need to maintain our positive momentum in La Liga."

📰 One of the main events for Athletic in recent days has been the return of Aymeric Laporte. For the first time in 2,801 days, the Spanish defender donned the "Basque" jersey again, having left during the 2017/18 season for Manchester City. Here's what the player said after his much-anticipated return: "From the very beginning, my goal was to wear this jersey again, which means so much to me, and after much effort and work, we've managed to have this long-awaited reunion. I can't express in words all the gratitude I feel towards the fans for all these years, treating me as if I never left and constantly sending me messages of support throughout this time."

❌ In Athletic's injury list are Nico Williams (muscle injury), Beñat Prados (knee injury), and Unai Eguiluz (knee injury). Due to suspensions, Dani Vivian, Alex Padilla, and Yeray Álvarez will miss the upcoming match.

Girona

🎤 Girona's head coach addressed the team's rocky start to the season: "We need to keep improving. Getting out of this zone won't be easy, and we'll all have to endure some struggles. We must stay united with our fans. We have a squad capable of performing well. We need to find an approach that ensures our safety. We always need the support of our fans. We must remain united to get out of this situation. The team has the desire, motivation, and hope. They want to change the situation."

❌ A major obstacle for Girona in establishing stability is their crowded injury list. Due to various injuries, Ricard Artero, Juan Carlos, Thomas Lemar, David Lopez, and Viktor Tsygankov will be unavailable for selection. Additionally, they cannot rely on the suspended Vitor Reis and Axel Witsel.

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

In 8 of Athletic's last 10 matches, there have been no more than 4 yellow cards. A similar trend is observed in 9 of Girona's previous 10 games. It's also worth noting that at the start of this season, both teams have not been committing many fouls: "the Lions" average 1.8, as do "the Gironistes". Considering these statistics, we predict under 4.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goal Prediction

Head-to-head encounters between these teams typically feature plenty of scoring opportunities. In 6 of their last 7 meetings, there have been at least 3 goals scored. This trend also holds for 5 of Girona's last 7 matches. Additionally, Michel's squad is known for having the league's leakiest defense, conceding an average of 3 goals per game. Our pick is over 2.5 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Let's focus on the corner kick stats for both teams at the start of this season. Athletic show a positive trend in this area: 7 corners for versus 4.4 against. The same cannot be said for Girona, with 4.4 for and 5.8 against. In head-to-head matchups, "the Basques" also hold a significant advantage: 5.7 versus 3.3. Our bet is on Athletic to win the corner count with a -1.5 handicap.

Girona are in dreadful form, and it's unclear how they can climb out of this slump. Adding to their woes, Michel's squad is plagued by numerous unavailable players who could have provided much-needed balance across the lines. Girona's poor track record at San Mamés is another factor that cannot be ignored. Thus, the upcoming match presents a prime opportunity for the Lions to bounce back from a string of three consecutive defeats. A final score of 3-1 seems quite plausible. The key bet here is Athletic's victory with a -1 handicap.