Athletic Club's 2026-27 season has begun with a series of setbacks that have left the team without competition for almost a month. Since the first match of the campaign, the club has suffered two official suspensions and the absence of several matches due to external causes, which has forced the board to rethink the squad's agenda.
The first setback occurred last Saturday in Vallecas, when Athletic faced Rayo Vallecano. The day was interrupted after 13 minutes of play after a protest from the fans who threw objects onto the field. The referee, after trying to restart the match, declared the final suspension when the situation became uncontrollable. The League confirmed that the match would not be rescheduled in the following hours or the following day, forcing the team to return to Bilbao without having played since the start of the season. This episode adds to the already usual tension between Rayo fans and the club's board.
The second incident occurred during the visit to Levante, the sixth day of the league. The intense rain and the state of the grass in Valencia prevented the celebration of the match, which will be rescheduled for November 21. Unlike the suspension in Vallecas, the decision was made just five minutes before the start of the match, which generated confusion among players and coaching staff.
Among the matches that have been affected, Athletic lost the opportunity to play its first matchday against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, since the event was postponed to allow both teams, world champions of their respective teams, to regain their training rhythm. The match with Sevilla in San Mamés, which was played on the first day of the season, also ended in defeat for the lions. In addition, the club was forced to cancel the invitation to the visit of San Mamés, which caused a protest from the players to the media.
To date, Athletic has played only one competitive match in 34 days, the derby against Real Sociedad in San Mamés, before the national team break. The next match is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 at the Mestalla, where they will face Levante. Meanwhile, the squad faces an irregular calendar that makes sports planning and the physical preparation of the players difficult.
The board, led by Jon Uriarte, has had to manage these unforeseen events while maintaining team cohesion. With the season still in its early stages, Athletic seeks to stabilize and take advantage of the upcoming games to regain the rhythm and competitiveness that characterize the “Red Wing.”