Real Oviedo vs Athletic Bilbao: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 15 February 2026
One of the fixtures of La Liga's 24th round will take place on Sunday at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium in Oviedo, where Real Oviedo will host Athletic Bilbao. I'm leaning towards a cautious bet for this clash, considering the Basques' poor away record and the break that might have benefited the hosts.
Match preview
Oviedo finally snapped their long winless streak by beating Girona 1-0 — their first victory since late September. The match against Rayo Vallecano was postponed due to weather conditions, giving Guillermo Almada’s squad a valuable two-week break, which could play a role in terms of freshness and tactical preparation.
The main problem for the Blues is their attack: only 12 goals in 22 rounds — the worst record in the league. Nevertheless, their defense has looked well-organized in recent games, with Chaira emerging as a key figure in the win over Girona, adding extra bite on the flank.
Athletic arrive after a defeat to Real Sociedad (0-1) in the Copa del Rey semi-final, but managed to secure an important 4-2 win over Levante in La Liga a week earlier. That was the Basques’ first league victory since early December, underlining the inconsistency of their current campaign.
Ernesto Valverde’s side sit only 10th in the table and have struggled on the road: just two wins in 11 away matches and only 10 goals scored. Personnel issues persist, though Iñaki and Nico Williams are both fit to start.
Probable lineups
- Real Oviedo: Escandel, Vidal, Costas, Carmo, Lopez, Hassan, Sibo, Colombatto, Chaira, Reina, Viñas.
- Athletic Bilbao: Simon, Lekue, Paredes, Laporte, Boiro, Jaureguizar, Ruiz de Galarreta, I. Williams, Navarro, N. Williams, Guruzeta.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Oviedo have scored just 12 goals in 22 rounds — the lowest tally in La Liga.
- Athletic have won only two of their 11 away games this season.
- In the first half of the season, the Basques beat Oviedo 1-0, while the hosts' last victory over Athletic dates back to 2001.
Prediction
Oviedo are likely to play cautiously, focusing on a compact defense and rare counterattacks. Athletic are unstable away from home and still facing squad issues, which reduces confidence in their superiority. Expect a tight match with few chances, where the teams may end up sharing the points.
