Hello and welcome to the scouting report and key battles weekly column! This week’s edition of Ahmed’s analysis will take a closer look at Athletic Bilbao’s transfers, form, strategy, a few things you (probably) didn't know about the club, predicted line-up and key battles.
Athletic Bilbao are without question one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football history. The Basques have won La Liga eight times and have also been historically outstanding in the Copa del Rey winning it 23 or 24 times (the 1902 cup is disputed with Athletic Bilbao having the cup on display in their museum, but LFP and RFEF official statistics are not including it as a cup win). They have not been able to recreate that success in Europe but have reached the UEFA Cup/Europa League final on two occasions in 1977 and 2012.
The history of Los Leones is a deep and rich one. The club has enjoyed golden ages in the 1910s, 1930s, 1950s and the 1980s. But nothing compares to the legends that have worn the red and white shirt.
Spanish football treasures such as Pichichi and Telmo Zarra spent their entire careers at Athletic. More recently, stars such as Joseba Etxeberria, Andoni Goikoetxea and Iribar have also graced the San Mames and fully devoted themselves to the club. Until recently the pattern was clear, Athletic’s best players stayed there for the duration of their career.
Yet things have changed. With the departures of the problematic Fernando Llorente, the inconsistent Fernando Amorebieta, the outstanding Javi Martinez and the enigmatic Bielsa, there was suddenly a feeling of anxiousness and uncertainty for Athletics future as well as the need to replace them all. They need not have worry. Athletic quickly moved to sign the exciting midfielder Benat from Real Betis, the dependable defender Mikel Balenziaga from Valladolid and the striker Kike from Osasuna for squad depth.
They got Valverde 2.0. Easily the best decision made by the club in years. Sid Lowe of The Guardian writes: "Ernesto Valverde sought inspiration in Vito Corleone. June 2013 at the Baroque-inspired Palacio de Ibagaine, with its wide entrance hall, dark wood-panelled walls and footballing works of art, and the man they call Txingurri – The Ant – was doing something he had waited almost a decade to do. He was also doing something they tell you never to do. He was going back."
As he sat before the media a day after starting his tenure in Bilbao, Athletic's new manager, who is also their old manager, admitted: "Sequels are never any good." There was a pause and then he added: "Well, apart from The Godfather Part II." You could also add Toy Story 2 and 3.
Well, that’s right. And if The Godfather Part II and Toy Story 2 and 3 were good, Txingurri Returns is great. Valverde has returned and the players have returned with him; they have been completely revived and reinvigorated. He could even have become Barcelona’s manager for this season but he decided to stick with his current team. He is a fantastic manager.
Yet it is la cantera de Lezama which should take a lot of the plaudits because it has in recent years produced an endless of supply of certain gems as well potential ones. This includes the likes of Iker Muniain, Aymeric Laporte, Jon Aurtenetxe, Markel Susaeta, Oscar de Marcos, Ibai Gomez, Mikel San Jose, Unai Lopez, Ander Iturraspe and Jonas Ramalho, all of whom are currently contracted to the club. The list is endless. La cantera de Lezama was recently even described by Simon James of The Guardian as "The world’s finest youth academy system".
The Basque-only policy has yielded one of the most successful youth systems in the football world in la cantera de Lezama, but to call it "the world’s finest" is arguable, to say the least. The policy has without doubt helped the club remain absolutely debt-free while the rest of the Spanish clubs (and Spain) suffer financial turmoil.
The Beware Flying Footballs blog wrote: "Real Sociedad also employed a similar system to Athletic until they relaxed they policy to allow foreign players into their team from 1989. The policy has been criticised in the past but Athletic’s own rules have adapted over time and players from other areas can play for the first team as long as they’ve developed in the Basque area. Players with Basque heritage but not born in the region are also allowed to play for Athletic, similar to the grandparent rule in international football."
It continues: "Athletic Bilbao current training ground was opened in 1971 and the board have plans to expand and modernise the club’s Lezama training complex. Recognising the importance of the academy this will help consolidate the Cantera structure and continue the development of youth players for the first team."
Tim Stannard of Four Four Two said: "Last year, Real Sociedad flew the flag for the Basque Country and didn't do too well. More is expected from the more robust and technically superior Athletic, which is the odd one out among most of the teams in this year’s draw by actually running a profit, using homegrown players and consistently performing above expectations despite losing their best players every summer."
The goalkeeping position is covered. The defence is so good that Jon Aurtenetxe can’t even seem to buy a game, the recently capped San Jose is struggling with game time and the hugely promising Ramalho has had to be sent out on loan. The losses of Ander Herrera and Javi Martínez have been shrugged off with the rise of Ander Iturraspe in the centre of midfield, alongside the revelatory Mikel Rico. The midfield is well stocked for creativity with the likes of Iker Muniain, Markel Susaeta, Beñat Etxebarria, Ibai Gomez and Oscar de Marcos in the mix. The wonderfully effective Aritz Aduriz continues to bear the burden of goalscorer-in-chief.
It is fair to say that most football fans have a soft spot for Athletic Bilbao, and I am no different. With their high-pressing, incredible intensity, sublime skill, proud principles, fantastic fans and sheer likability, it’s easy to see why. Athletic Bilbao are arguably the epitome of La Liga in that they pride themselves on their youth team and they are capable of playing wonderful collective football but they are also sturdy and know how to win football matches. This togetherness and sturdiness was perhaps best illustrated by Athletic’s midfielder Mikel Rico: "All of us who play for Athletic are Athletic fans and we’ve loved this club since we were children."
Transfers
Understandably, with their Basque local-only transfer policy, Athletic have only made a limited amount of transfers. Athletic Bilbao's biggest (and only) signing is back-up Borja Viguera from Alaves for £880.000. They have also brought up a whole host of players from their B team in Iker Guarrotxena, Ager Aketxe, Unai Bustinza and the cream of the crop, Unai López.
Jon Aurtenetxe is a promising young left-back who Luis Enrique will know more about than most since he has returned from a successful loan spell at Celta Vigo. The 21-year-old Basque has made the No.3 spot his own for the two years prior to Valverde's era after coming through the Lezama ranks, but it seems Valverde does not quite trust him. The defensive minded player is definitely one for the future.
Athletic Bilbao are well-known around the world for almost always only selling their top players at their buy-out clause and Ander Herrera's case was no different. He left for Manchester United for £31.68 million. It's an outstanding piece of business for the Basque club. As per the club's motto (see below), it's all about teamwork and identity, players come and go but the lions of San Mames continue to go from strength to strength.
The likes of Raúl Fernández, Iñigo Pérez and Borja Ekiza have left on a free transfer. Jonás Ramalho, Unai Albizua ,Iker Guarrotxena and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta have all gone on loan to the Segunda Division.
All in all, it has been a fairly standard Athletic Bilbao transfer window. A top player has left for big money, a few players arrived and gone on loan, a few left on a free and most significantly, a good amount of the vastly underrated Lezama's graduates were promoted from the B team.
As Adam Matvya of Barca Blaugranes, recently put it: "Athletic lose Fernando Llorente, Javi Martinez, Ander Herrera, etc. But yet improve. That is testament to Valverde and Lezama (Athletic's academy)."
Form
Athletic have had a bit of a mixed bag in their pre-season friendlies. They beat a good Borussia Monchengladbach side and drew with Werder Bremen, both in Germany, but they were humbled by very mediocre Toulouse and Osasuna sides.
They started the season off well with a deserved draw in Napoli, although Napoli spurned numerous chances to take a win to the San Mames stadium. Athletic taught Napoli a lesson in the second leg. They tore them to shreds in the second half.
They were unlucky to lose the first La Liga match, against Malaga, not only for the wrongly disallowed goal by the goalkeeper, but also because of a stonewall penalty denied in the last minute. As everyone’s favourite commentator, Ray Hudson, put it: "Last-minute penalty call dismissed but it is a clear, blatant penalty that a blind man, on a galloping horse, in a thick Scottish fog can see." After confirming their place in the Champions League, Athletic Bilbao have really started to enjoy themselves. They completely took apart Levante with ease, they strolled to a 3-0 win.
Athletic Bilbao tend to mesmerise at San Mames, but they usually disappoint away from home. Case in point, one of the most fascinating La Liga related tweets last season was after Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona early on in the season: "List of teams who have won at the new San Mamés: ."
Strategy
Athletic Bilbao play some of the most visually pleasing football in La Liga. They are a well-drilled and entertaining outfit. Sid Lowe writes: "Valverde demands intensity – something which counted against him at Villarreal, the one club where things did not work out – and pushes his teams high up the pitch, closing down the opposition, an attacking manager who wants energy, intensity and domination. Quick to get the ball wide and put it into the area, no team in Spain have scored more from headers, nor had more attempted headers on goal, and no team have delivered more balls into the box. Yet only four teams have had more possession and this is not aimless long balls: these are crosses delivered to perfection."
It’s fast, incisive and relentless. Yet it’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Athletic Bilbao usually play with a very high defensive line and this makes them susceptible to pace in behind. It is both creditable and weird that Valverde decides to keep playing a high defensively line no matter what, despite getting caught out almost every single time against the best of teams in past seasons.
According to Tre’ Atkinson of the Bleacher Report: "Bielsa's former system of constant running was gone and it was clear that Valverde was bringing back Athletic's historical way of playing that consisted of constant pressure, midfield strength and attacking down the wings. From the very first match fans could see that Athletic was returning to its roots."
A Few Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Athletic Bilbao
Athletic was formed in 1898 in Lamiako (now part of Leioa, about eight kilometers north of Bilbao), Bizkaia by British industrial workers living in the area. Athletic is also the oldest football club currently in the Spanish First Division, being one year older than FC Barcelona, and being the only club, aside from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, to have never spent a season in the Second Division.
Their favourite saying is: "Con cantera y aficion, no hace falta importacion." It translates as: "With home-grown teams and supporters, there is no need for imports." Paradoxically, Athletic are a foreign creation, started by British workers who left Portsmouth, Sunderland and Southampton to work in the steel and shipbuilding industries.
They are known as Los Leones (The Lions) because their stadium was built near a church called San Mamés (Saint Mammes). Mammes was a semi-legendary early Christian thrown to the lions by the Romans. Mammes pacified the lions and was later made a saint.
Athletic Bilbao decided to test the PA system at their new San Mamés Stadium last season by playing the Champions League anthem. They will now look forward to playing it for real.
The Beware Flying Footballs blog wrote: "Although both cities are in Spain Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona represent the Basque and Catalonia regions where the respective clubs are based. Following the Spanish Civil War in 1936 both areas found themselves marginalised by the new regime headed by General Franco. Athletic Bilbao, named in homage to the origins of the club, were forced to rename as Atletico Bilbao as Franco had insisted upon the Castilianisation of all club names. In these years there was a strict limit on the number of foreign players allowed in each team; this didn’t have too much effect on either side due to the fact that both teams have strong beliefs on producing their own players from the local areas. Due to the oppression not just on the football field but in everyday life going to support Athletic Bilbao or Barcelona represented taking a stand against the regime."
It continued: "Fans were allowed to express themselves more freely when watching their respective teams in the San Mames or Nou Camp, both stadiums became symbols of regional pride. Supporters would be able to speak Basque or Catalan openly without fear of reprisals. When Franco died the clubs and their fans were able to return to normal life. Athletic reverted to their original name and before the local derby with Real Sociedad the Ikurrina, the Basque flag, was displayed before the match, another rule which was put in place by Franco but subsequently overturned."
Predicted Line-up
With Athletic Bilbao having an eye on a very winnable Champions League midweek match (and even group), one or two of the players will be difficult to predict.
Gorka Iraizoz will start in goal. Oscar de Marcos and Andoni Iraola, who has recently returned from injury, will most probably fight it out for the right-back position. Aymeric Laporte will definitely start and the other center-back position will be between the veteran Carlos Gurpegui and the promising Mikel San Jose. Gurpegui is the captain and is expected to start. San Jose was just back from his first Spain international call up. He is called up for Spain yet he rarely gets a game for Athletic Bilbao. Mikel Balenziaga will start in the left-back position.
A central midfield pairing consisting of Ander Iturraspe and Mikel Rico is certain to be deployed. Benat and Muniain will start but the other attacking midfield position is far less certain. There are three likely options:
1. Muniain stays in his favoured left-wing position and the naturally right-sided Susaeta plays as a right-winger. This could very well happen and it worked against Napoli.
2. Muniain plays as a right-winger and Ibai Gomez continues to play in his favoured left-wing position as they did against Levante. This could also happen.
3. Iraola comes in at right-back and de Marcos plays further up as a right-winger. This would strengthen Athletic considerably defensively, but at the expense of that creative piece of magic. This looks the least likely of the three options.
Ibai Gomez has excellent set-piece deliveries, as evidenced from his two assists in the last matchday against Levante. As mentioned, it is uncertain whether he will start. Susaeta is one of the most underrated players on this team and he has been consistently churning out very good performances for a few years now, but his position in the starting eleven is also uncertain.
I watched Athletic Bilbao absolutely dismantle Napoli and I was impressed by the whole team, but especially by Aritz Aduriz. He was phenomenal. He was made to look the complete striker. To be fair, Napoli’s defence really did not do themselves any favours, but the stats don’t lie. He has scored 8 goals in his last 9 competitive matches. Stunning.
Possible XI (4-2-3-1): Iraizoz; Oscar de Marcos, Gurpegui, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Mikel Rico; Susaeta, Benat, Muniain; Aduriz
Key Battles:
Lionel Messi v Aymeric Laporte - The one-man wrecking ball that is Lionel Messi, destroys defenders at ease and makes barricades crumble. He only needs two more goals to hit a hit a milestone of 400 career goals for club and country. Laporte is the young but brilliant left-footed defender Barcelona will know all about after reportedly enquiring about signing him this season.
Winner: Lionel Messi is the favourite to win a duel against pretty much anyone, without even mentioning the milestone motivation.
Sergio Busquets v Ander Iturraspe - These are two excellent Spanish defensive midfielders, that there is no doubt. One is fully established in world football and the other is not quite there yet. They will certainly have to perform a lot better than they did in the friendly against France last Thursday. Busquets struggled against the incisive movement of the vastly underrated Valbuena, strength and sheer power of Pogba and was forced off at half-time. Iturraspe looked out-of-sorts and was almost bullied at times by the same players. It was only a friendly though, so I would not read too much into it.
Winner: The tactics of the two respective teams should suit Busquets more than Iturraspe. It is not often the two of them are left chasing shadows, but it is likely one will continue doing so on Saturday.
Dani Alves v Iker Muniain - The ceiling is very high for Muniain. Due to his style of play and stature, he was dubbed "the Spanish Messi" by the media. He is a top winger who can probably play for pretty much any team in the world, indeed he has so much potential but make no mistake about it, he is still not the finished product. He’ll likely come up against a Dani Alves who for the first time in a long time has good competition for his spot in the form of Montoya and Douglas.
Winner: It will be close and even if Athletic fail to score or only score one, Muniain should nonetheless cause Alves some trouble.
Gerard Pique v Aritz Aduriz - Aduriz is quite simply in the form of his life. On current form, he will probably get the better of whoever he is up against. The best thing about him is that he seems to be getting better and better with age. Pique seems to be back to the Pique of a few years ago.
Winner: The in-form hitman will cause havoc if provided with the chances. It’s a big if though, because Athletic will not have much of the ball. With Pique playing well again and preferring to play against Aduriz-type strikers, this one is a deadlock.
A notable mention goes to the Neymar v Oscar de Marcos battle, which is arguably as important as any other. Ray Hudson once famously said: "Bringing Neymar to a footballing match is like bringing a gun to a knife fight." Iker Muniain once joked in an interview held past midnight about the mostly right winger but also right-back, Oscar de Marcos: "If you go to the training ground now, you'll find him doing laps of the pitch – for a simple reason: pace and stamina." So, the question is: Will Forrest Gump avoid the bullet this time round?
Final Thoughts
Despite the somewhat non-existent ‘FIFA virus’, the international break will make it more difficult. Yet there is no doubt in my mind that Barcelona should win this. Bilbao haven’t won this fixture since the 2001/2002 season. A one or two goal margin seems realistic. With it being at home, if Barcelona score early it could be even more, but this is unlikely with it being so early on in the season since teams tend to start cautiously.
Athletic Bilbao have no debts, a new stadium, one of the best managers in the game who loves the club, a place in the pinnacle competition of club football, some of the best players in the division and paradoxically one of the most praised (and at the same time underrated) youth systems in the world. Los Leones are a force to be reckoned with.
There is something about Athletic Bilbao, almost everything from A-Z mesmerises. I therefore wish them the best of luck for the season ahead.
Thank you for reading, take care and goodbye until next time!
Poll
Which key battle will be the most important in deciding the match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao?
Lionel Messi v Aymeric Laporte
Sergio Busquets v Ander Iturraspe
Dani Alves v Iker Muniain
Gerard Pique v Aritz Aduriz
Neymar v Oscar de Marcos
16 votes | Results