Athletic Bilbao Eyes Third Straight Win Against Elche

San Mamés expects noise, energy and, increasingly, routine home wins. On Saturday, it gets a visit from an Elche CF side arriving short on confidence and shorter on points.

Athletic Bilbao sit 9th in La Liga with 6 points and the feeling they’re building something solid. Edin Terzic’s team are fresh from a statement 3-0 victory over Atlético de Madrid, a result that did more than just add three points; it sharpened belief. Two wins on the bounce, two games unbeaten, and a squad that looks comfortable in its own skin.

Across from them, Elche are in survival mode already. Martín Anselmi’s men have just 1 point and occupy 19th place. Their latest outing, a 3-2 defeat to Real Sociedad, underlined the problem: they can score, but they cannot keep the door shut. They come into Bilbao on the back of three straight defeats, four consecutive games without a win, and four in a row conceding goals. Away from home, they’ve gone two matches without victory. The slide is real.

Fortress San Mamés vs fragile Elche

San Mamés Barria is rarely forgiving, and this version of Athletic looks ready to lean into that. The Williams brothers, Nico and Iñaki, give Terzic’s side pace and direct threat on both flanks, while Oihan Sancet links midfield and attack with power and timing between the lines. Behind them, Robert Navarro and Iñigo de Galarreta help set the tempo, feeding the wide runners and keeping Athletic on the front foot.

The last time these two met, Athletic edged it 2-1. That narrow scoreline feels generous to Elche in the current context. Athletic arrive with momentum, Elche with baggage.

Terzic’s most recent starting XI in the win over Atlético de Madrid told its own story: Unai Simón in goal; Jesús Areso, Aymeric Laporte, Yeray Álvarez and Yuri Berchiche across the back; de Galarreta and Benat Gerenabarrena in midfield; Navarro, Sancet, Nico Williams supporting Iñaki Williams up top. It’s a spine full of familiarity, with Laporte’s presence reinforcing both calm and authority in defence.

There is one enforced absence: Unai Egiluz is sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear. Even so, Athletic’s structure looks settled, their roles clear.

Elche’s last XI, in the 3-2 loss to Real Sociedad, showed a side still searching for balance: Matías Dituro in goal; Buba Sangaré, Víctor Chust, Pedro Bigas and Tete Morente at the back; Facundo Buonanotte, Germán Valera, Gonzalo Villar and Javi Morcillo in midfield areas; Fer Niño and Ezequiel Ponce leading the line. There is technical quality there, especially in Villar’s passing and Buonanotte’s creativity, but the numbers do not lie. This is a team leaking goals and struggling to turn phases of good play into results.

Pressure rising on Anselmi’s men

Elche’s situation is stark. One point, three defeats in a row, and a defensive record that keeps dragging them into chaos. Every away trip now feels heavier. Two consecutive away matches without a win might not sound catastrophic in isolation, but combined with their wider form, it frames this visit to Bilbao as a test of character as much as quality.

They know what awaits. Athletic press high, feed off the crowd and rarely let opponents settle. If Elche’s back line, from Sangaré to Bigas, cannot cope with the intensity and the movement of Nico and Iñaki Williams, this could turn ugly quickly.

And yet, this is La Liga. One moment, one counter, one set piece can flip a narrative. Elche have forwards in Fer Niño and Ezequiel Ponce who can punish lapses. The question is whether they can withstand the waves long enough to make those moments count.

Athletic, for their part, have a chance to do more than just bank another home win. With two straight victories behind them and the table still taking shape, this is the type of fixture that can turn a solid start into a genuine platform. Win again, and San Mamés will not just be loud on Saturday; it will start to believe this season might carry them higher than 9th.