The Spanish La Liga season is now in full swing and next Monday's match sees a fascinating contest as Athletic Bilbao host Rayo Vallecano at the San Mames Stadium.
Athletic Bilbao come into this game having secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sevilla in their first game of the season. Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their impressive 3-1 away win against Girona.
The contest is set to be a tactical battle between Ernesto Valverde's disciplined Bilbao side and a hungry Rayo Vallecano team under Inigo Perez, who will be keen to prove their status in the top flight.
With both sides having started the season with a win, this fixture will be a true test of their early form and a key indicator of their ambitions for the season.
Read our Athletic Bilbao vs Rayo Vallecano predictions and preview to find out, but remember to also check our other La Liga predictions.
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Athletic Bilbao vs Rayo Vallecano prediction: Bilbao favourite to win
Key statistics
- Athletic Bilbao have come out as winners in four of their last five encounters.
- The Lions have won their last four home games against Heracles.
- Over 2.5 goals have been scored in their last four encounters
Correct score prediction: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
The Lions will be looking to build on their good form when they face Rayo. The home crowd will expect another strong display, especially after their impressive win against Sevilla in their last match.
Bilbao are favourites to win this encounter and we are predicting a 2-1 scoreline. This is based on their strong record against Rayo, having won the last two meetings by scores of 3-1 and 2-1. With the advantage of playing at home and the confidence from their recent victory, they should have enough to edge this match, even though both teams are likely to score.
Pre-match odds and win probability: Bilbao given high odds by bookmakers
- Home: 8/11 (1.73) – 57.9%
- Draw: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
- Away: 17/5 (4.40) – 22.7%
*Odds provided by Ladbrokes. Subject to change.*
Ernesto Valverde’s team are favourite to win, priced at 1.73, which gives them a 57.9% chance of taking all three points. A draw is set at 3.50, meaning it has a 28.6% likelihood. Inigo Perez, meanwhile, are considered an outsider with odds of 4.40, giving them just an 18.5% chance of winning. This shows that while Athletic are expected to come out on top, the odds also suggest that Rayo have an outside chance of causing an upset.
Most recent head-to-head: Bilbao dominate meetings
In their last six meetings, Valverde’s men have had the edge over Rayo Vallecano. They have won four of those games, while Rayo have managed just one victory and the other ended in a draw.
The most recent clash finished 3-1 in favour of Athletic, showing their attacking strength against Rayo’s defence. Before that, Valverde’s side also picked up back-to-back wins with scorelines of 2-1 and 1-0. This record shows Bilbao’s consistency in this fixture and underlines why they will go into the next meeting as favourites.
Spain La Liga 13/04/25
Athletic Bilbao
Rayo Vallecano
Spain La Liga 01/12/24
Rayo Vallecano
Athletic Bilbao
Spain La Liga 25/05/24
Rayo Vallecano
Athletic Bilbao
Spain La Liga 02/12/23
Athletic Bilbao
Rayo Vallecano
Spain La Liga 05/03/23
Rayo Vallecano
Athletic Bilbao
After reviewing our key Athletic Bilbao vs Rayo Vallecano predictions, be sure to visit our website for the remaining football betting tips today.
Athletic Bilbao preview: Looking to continue unbeaten run
Valverde’s side will be hoping to continue their strong start to the season, especially with important players like Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet performing well. The team looks confident and will aim to take control of the midfield, while also using the speed of their attackers to cause problems out wide.
The only player they will be missing is Yuri Berchiche, who is sidelined with an injury. Even without him, Ernesto Valverde’s side have enough depth and quality to stay solid at the back and remain dangerous going forward, which should give them a good chance of extending their good run of form.
Predicted lineup: Simon (GK), De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Lekue, Vesga, Prados, I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams & Guruzeta
Spain La Liga 11/05/25
W
CD Alaves
0
Athletic Bilbao
1
UEFA Europa League 08/05/25
L
Man Utd
4
Athletic Bilbao
1
Spain La Liga 04/05/25
D
Real Sociedad
0
Athletic Bilbao
0
UEFA Europa League 01/05/25
L
Man Utd
3
Athletic Bilbao
0
Spain La Liga 23/04/25
W
Las Palmas
0
Athletic Bilbao
1
Rayo Vallecano preview: Aiming to end poor run
Perez’s boys will come into this game full of confidence after their impressive win away from home on the opening weekend. They have looked dangerous in attack recently and shown they can create chances, but at the same time, their defence has looked a little shaky and could be tested again in this match.
A key concern for Rayo is the absence of midfielder Abdul Mumin, who is out with an injury. His absence could make it harder for them to stay organised defensively, especially against an Athletic Bilbao side that is strong in attack. This means Rayo will likely need to rely on their forwards to keep the pressure on and take their chances if they are to get something from the game.
Predicted lineup: Dimitrievski (GK), Balliu, Lejeune, Mumin, Espino, Comesana, Lopez, Palazon, Trejo, Garcia & Camello
Spain La Liga 09/05/25
W
Las Palmas
0
Rayo Vallecano
1
Spain La Liga 02/05/25
W
Getafe
0
Rayo Vallecano
1
Spain La Liga 24/04/25
L
Atletico Madrid
3
Rayo Vallecano
0
Spain La Liga 19/04/25
D
Valencia
1
Rayo Vallecano
1
Spain La Liga 13/04/25
L
Athletic Bilbao
3
Rayo Vallecano
1
Player to watch: Nico Williams
One of the standout players heading into this match is Nico Williams, who was the best player for Athletic Bilbao in their opening game of the season. The young winger continues to grow in influence and has become a key figure in the team’s attacking play, thanks to his pace, creativity and end product.
In his last outing, he delivered a brilliant display in Bilbao’s 3-2 victory over Sevilla, where he not only scored a goal but also set up another, proving his ability to step up in big games. As Bilbao looks to push for another important result, Williams’ form and ability to change a match in an instant will be vital to their chances.