Athletic vs Villarreal: Prediction, H2H and probable lineups — April 12, 2026
Sunday afternoon at San Mamés will set the stage for a showdown between two European contenders: in Matchweek 31 of La Liga, Athletic Bilbao hosts Villarreal. Both squads enter the fixture after a tough week and are dealing with significant personnel changes due to injuries and suspensions.
See also: Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid prediction and betting tips 11 April 2026
Match preview
Athletic Bilbao, under Ernesto Valverde, is enduring a prolonged slump, sitting 11th in the table with just 38 points. The team has struggled with poor finishing and recurring defensive lapses. Ahead of facing one of the season’s frontrunners, the Basques are in disarray: Yeray Álvarez is suspended, while Andoni Gorosabel and Aitor Paredes are sidelined with injuries. This forces the coaching staff to field an experimental center-back pairing, a risky move against Villarreal’s potent attack.
Villarreal under Marcelino has been the revelation of the Spanish season, holding third place with 58 points. Their high-scoring form owes much to the integration of Georges Mikautadze, who has slotted perfectly into their fast, vertical style. Despite a frustrating defeat to Girona in the previous round, the "Yellow Submarine" remains a favorite in the race for a Champions League spot. Injuries to Foyth and Rafa Marín complicate their defensive rotation, but the quality in midfield and attack allows the visitors to dictate play even away from home.
Tactically, Athletic will rely on aggressive wing play and the skill of Nico Williams. Villarreal, meanwhile, will look to control the midfield through Dani Parejo and exploit the space behind the hosts’ backline with the runs of Mikautadze and Gerard Moreno.
Probable lineups
Athletic: Agirrezabala — De Marcos, Vivian, Lekue, Boiro — Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados — Berenguer, Sancet, Nico Williams — Guruzeta
Villarreal: Luiz Junior — Freeman, Kambwala, Bailly, Cardona — Diatta, Parejo, Comesaña, Moleiro — Gerard Moreno, Mikautadze
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last five meetings, there have been two draws, two wins for Athletic, and one for Villarreal
- Athletic has won just one of their last five matches, losing four of them
- Villarreal has won five of their last ten games, losing three. The Yellow Submarine has conceded in nine of their last ten matches
Prediction
Given both sides’ defensive struggles, this looks set to be a high-scoring encounter: both clubs are likely to create plenty of chances, and the outcome will hinge on who takes theirs. My prediction: over 2.5 goals at 1.9
