Athletic Bilbao is preparing for the next League derby after two results that have put its form in doubt. The 4‑0 against Getafe and the 1‑6 against AE Prat, both games in which the team showed a performance well below its standards, force the leaders to reevaluate the squad before facing Real Madrid.
Getafe, at home, was dominant in all areas of the field. The first division players outperformed the Madrid team in both the first and second half, making it clear that Athletic was unable to maintain its usual pressure or solid defense. Despite the defeat, some youth players, such as Vizcay, Imga, Selton and Aritz Conde, managed to impress with their performances and creating several scoring opportunities. The first three players in their debut managed to score, while the fourth, although without a goal, contributed two assists and left a good impression on the field.
In the second match, AE Prat, which competes in the sixth category, achieved a surprising 6‑1 victory. Athletic showed a lack of defensive organization and a weakness in attacking generation, which allowed the visiting team to overwhelm. The defeat also highlighted the need to reinforce the defensive line and improve the team's tactical coherence.
Tomorrow, Athletic will face Real Madrid in a match that will be crucial to measure the team's progress. Coach Edin Terzic has led the team to good results against Celta and Atlético, but the recent drop in performance against Elche, Alavés, Valencia and Levante has generated concern. Despite having improved against the Madrid team, Athletic needs to show that it can contain a Real team that has won its last four league games.
The derby will be a true test of Athletic's ability to bounce back from recent defeats and demonstrate their competitiveness against one of the strongest teams in the competition. Fans hope that the team will achieve a solid performance and that the youth players can continue to contribute with their energy and creativity. With Real Madrid as their opponents, Athletic will have the opportunity to confirm whether the changes made to the squad and tactics have been effective and whether they can maintain their position in the league table.