Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol Prediction and Betting Tips | December 22nd 2025

Athletic Bilbao will host Espanyol at the San Mamés Stadium in La Liga on Monday. The visitors are fifth in the standings and have a seven-point lead over eighth-placed Bilbao.

The hosts have won two of their five games in December while also suffering two defeats. They suffered a 2-0 loss to Celta Vigo in La Liga last week and bounced back with a 1-0 away win over Ourense in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

Periquitos extended their winning streak in La Liga to four games last week, with a 1-0 away triumph over Getafe. Leandro Cabrera scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute.

Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have squared off 199 times in all competitions. Bilbao have the lead in the head-to-head record with 88 wins. The visitors are not far behind with 69 wins, and 42 games have ended in draws.
• The hosts are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Periquitos, while recording three wins.
• Only Barcelona have drawn fewer games (1) than the hosts in La Liga this season (2).
• Espanyol have kept four clean sheets in their last five away games in La Liga.
• The hosts have seen conclusive results in their last eight La Liga games, recording three wins.
• Periquitos have won just one of their last 10 meetings against Bilbao, with that triumph coming away from home in 2022.
• The visitors have scored a goal apiece in five of their last seven league games.
• The hosts have failed to score in six of their last nine games in all competitions while keeping five clean sheets.

Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol Prediction

Lehoiak have three wins and three losses from their last six league games, with two of these wins coming at home. They have failed to score in three of their five games in December and will look to improve upon that form here.

Dani Vivian was booked against Celta last week and will serve a suspension here. Ernesto Valverde will be without the services of Aymeric Laporte, Unai Egiluz, Yuri Berchiche, Beñat Prados, and Maroan Sannadi. Robert Navarro faces a late fitness test.

Periquitos have secured 1-0 wins in their last three games and will look to build on that defensive form. They have lost just one of their last five La Liga away games, keeping clean sheets in the other four.

Charles Pickel is at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Ramon Terrats and Javi Puado are injured.

Considering the goalscoring form of the two teams and their absentee list, they will settle for a draw.

Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Espanyol

Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result - Draw

Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Under 2.5 goals

Tip 3: Both teams to score - Yes

Tip 4: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes

Edited by Shubham Dupare