European Glory And League Anguish

Athletic, a Divided Heart: European Glory and League Anguish

The red and white team navigates between the epic of the Cup and the Champions League, while the abyss of relegation lurks on the weekends.

Athletic Club's season presents itself as a fascinating, although worrying, exercise in duality. While the red and white team unleashes passions and competes fiercely in the cup and European competitions, the reality of LaLiga becomes a field of uncertainty every Saturday and Sunday. The disaster in the Super Cup seems like a distant memory, overshadowed by the exploits in the Champions League, where they brushed against the elite of the 'top 24', and the exciting journey in the Copa del Rey, which has catapulted them to a heart-stopping semi-final against Real Sociedad.

However, the sweet taste of midweek victory contrasts bitterly with the bitter aftertaste of league results. The league standings paint a delicate picture, with the team just three points away from the relegation zone. The numbers are overwhelming: of the last 57 points at stake, Athletic has only managed to add 16, a figure that sets off alarms in San Mamés.

Mikel González, the club's football director, has been clear about this. “We have not been able to win two consecutive games with a midweek game all season,” he admitted crudely. Athletic has not had two consecutive wins since last August, a milestone achieved in the first three days of the League, but in a very different context: without the added demands of European competition.

League inconsistency is a worrying constant. Each victory, no matter how epic, seems to have no continuity. After winning in León, the team stumbled in Mallorca. After attacking Bergamo in Europe, the defeat in Seville was felt. Now, a new opportunity presents itself to break this negative dynamic. The victory in the Copa del Rey against Valencia last Wednesday has given encouragement, and this Saturday, La Catedral will host the visit of Levante, a direct rival that is in the relegation zone, seven points behind Athletic.

“In the Champions League there are eight games. If we analyze the previous ones we have only obtained four points. If we analyze the subsequent ones we have obtained nine points, all nine against rivals from the lower zone. If we do the analysis with the Cup it is similar or even worse. We are having a hard time living with that demand and also with the injuries we are having,” explained González, underlining the difficulty of managing the double or triple competition and the losses.

Fortunately for Athletic, the load of matches is lightened after the Cup semi-final tie. The first leg against Real Sociedad will be played this Wednesday the 11th, and the return leg will not arrive until Wednesday the 4th of March. This could allow the team to focus energy on LaLiga and try to climb positions, moving away from danger.

For its part, Levante arrives in Bilbao in a critical situation. Five points from safety, the Granota team has shown a slight improvement since the arrival of Luis Castro to the bench. They have only suffered one defeat in the last five league games. One fact to take into account is their performance as a visitor: they have added more points away from home (11) than in their own fiefdom (7). Levante is bottom at home, with a single victory against Elche. However, away from home they have achieved convincing wins against Girona (0-4), Real Oviedo (0-2) and Sevilla (0-3), as well as draws against Getafe (1-1) and Mallorca (1-1).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Athletic's main problem this season? Athletic is having difficulties combining its performance in different competitions, showing a high level in the Champions League and the Cup, but suffering in LaLiga.
How many points away from relegation is Athletic? The red and white team is only 3 points away from the relegation zone.
When was the last time Athletic won two consecutive games in the League? The last time was in August, at the beginning of the season.
Who does Athletic play in the Cup semifinals? He faces Real Sociedad.
Which team visits Athletic this weekend in LaLiga? The Levant.
How is Levante in the standings? They are in relegation positions, penultimate in the table.
Does Levante score more points at home or away? Levante has more points as a visitor (11) than at home (7).
How many League games has Athletic won in the last 57 games played? He has added 16 points of the last 57 in play.
What European competition is Athletic competing in? Athletic is competing in the Champions League.
When are the Copa del Rey semi-finals played? The departure is on Wednesday the 11th and the return on Wednesday, March 4.