Athletic Club Is Taking Steps To Challenge Real Madrid And Barcelona

Athletic Club is looking to finish in the top 4 of La Liga once again. Former Athletic midfielder Ander Herrera expects Real Madrid to win the title and Kylian Mbappe to be top scorer. Getty Images

In an exclusive interview with international media, former Athletic Club and Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera discussed the Basque club’s prospects this season, whether Real Madrid or Barcelona will win La Liga, Nico Williams, Marcus Rashford, and the La Liga golden boot race.

Athletic Club

Athletic Club kicks off its La Liga campaign on Sunday, August 17th, against Sevilla FC. The game starts at 1:30 PM EDT / 6:30 PM GMT and is available on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Disney+ in the U.K.

Los Leones will be led this campaign by new club captain Iñaki Williams. Herrera coincided with the older of the two Williams brothers during his last stint at the club and has no doubt Iñaki will thrive as the captain. “He has behaved like a leader for many years,” said Herrera. “He helps the young players. He’s a great example for every single player at the club.” Williams holds the record for most consecutive appearances in La Liga, with 249, even playing with a piece of glass in his foot — a testament to his commitment to the club.

Herrera says that while “football changes, Athletic Club doesn’t change that much.” According to him, it’s the club culture and respect among players and fans that make the club special. He recalls every player in the first team taking time to sign autographs and speak with fans during his time at the club. Young players are steeped in Athletic’s ways from a young age and desire to play for the club that so closely represents the Basque culture and community.

Herrera calls Athletic “a romantic club” because of its ties to the community and its policy of only signing players of Basque heritage, something he thinks should not change, even in today’s hyper-global soccer market.

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Top-4 Finish

With Ernesto Valverde leading from the bench and the Williams brothers on the field, Athletic fans should be feeling confident going into the 2025-26 La Liga season. Last season, Los Leones finished in fourth, qualifying for this season’s UEFA Champions League. The season prior, Athletic broke its dry spell, winning its first Copa del Rey in 40 years. The city celebrated in style with players and fans floating down the river on barges.

Given the club’s limited spending power and self-imposed player selection policy, expectations are not as extreme as at other clubs. Fans will always want to see Athletic win, but Herrera says, “It would be unfair” to insist that Athletic Club should win the league. However, the former midfielder is adamant that Athletic “are making steps to fight against Real Madrid and Barcelona.”

Competing in the Champions League and La Liga will be a tall order for Athletic, but the Basques have never shied away from a fight. On the last day of the season, Athletic Club will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid. If all has been lost by then, at least Los Leones could spoil a potential Madrid title celebration — they would like nothing better.

Nico Williams

This summer, Athletic saw off a major challenge from Barcelona, thwarting the Blaugrana’s attempts to buy star winger Nico Williams. This is part of a wider trend which Herrera believes is “elevating the club.”

“In the past, the club struggled to keep star players,” Herrera told the media. “Javi Martínez left, I left, [Fernando] Llorente left, Kepa left, Laporte left. The difference between that period and now is that now they are able to keep Vivian, they are able to keep Unai Simon, they are able to keep Nico Williams.”

Nico is one of the first names on Valverde’s team sheet. At just 23 years old, he represents Athletic and Spain’s present and future. Williams signed a 10-year extension with Los Leones after negotiations with Barcelona stalled over the Catalan club’s inability to guarantee his registration.

“I think he had decided to stay because he thinks he can fight for trophies in Bilbao,” says Herrera. “He feels at home, and he feels like he can be the best player of the key players at the club for the next ten years. He wants to bring Athletic to the next step.”

La Liga Prediction

Barcelona may be the defending champions, but it’s Real Madrid that Herrera sees as the favorites this season. Los Blancos have added Xabi Alonso to the bench, and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen to the backline. Madrid also seems to have unearthed a gem in Gonzalo Garcia, whom Herrera thinks can be Madrid’s penalty box poacher.

Having not won anything last season, Los Merengues will be dangerous, but Barcelona will fight them every step of the way. The Blaugrana have added additional firepower in the form of Marcus Rashford. Herrera is “very optimistic” about his former teammate’s potential at Barca, although it remains to be seen if Rashford can find a way into the starting lineup.

The Mancunian needs consistency. “He had a big big impact in England and at Manchester United during his first few seasons,” says the native of Zaragoza. But recently, there have been more ups and downs, with Rashford even being left out of games entirely. “He’s so hungry to show what he’s capable of. He can make a big impact.”

Herrera seems to think the pressure is on Atlético de Madrid to fight for the title. Diego Simeone has spent plenty of money again this offseason and once again has a team to compete at the top of the table. “They are obligated to fight [for the title],” says Herrera. “They need to reach the last five games of La Liga with possibilities to win it.”

If Real Madrid is going to win La Liga, Kylian Mbappe is going to have to keep firing in the goals at a record pace. Getty Images

Top Scorer

Kylian Mbappe is the betting favorite to be La Liga’s top scorer for the second season running. The Frenchman netted 31 goals in 34 league games last season, finishing four goals clear of Robert Lewandowski.

It’s no surprise, given his prediction that Madrid will win the league, that Herrera believes Mbappe will maintain his grip on the golden boot. “If I have to bet, I would say Mbappe,” Herrera told the press. “I think Mbappe is going to destroy this season.”

However, there will be no limit to Mbappe’s challengers. Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha will certainly have their say. Between them, they scored 54 goals last season. Alexander Sorloth will expect to knock in a few more in his second full season at Atlético, as will Julian Álvarez, while Ante Budimir, Gonzalo García, or even Athletic’s Williams brothers could be outside shots for the scoring title.

Challengers

“Every single La Liga season is special…it gives you something you didn’t expect at the beginning,” says Herrera. Over 38 games anything can happen, but several clubs will be expected to challenge Athletic Club for the last of the top-4 spots.

Villarreal

Under the guidance of La Liga stalwart Marcelino, Villarreal remains a competitive side with quality players. The club lost midfielder Alex Baena to Atlético de Madrid, but will fully expect to compete for a European place. The Yellow Submarines routinely replace outgoing players with young gems and players who quickly slot into their possession-based system.

Rayo Vallecano

One of Spain’s last neighborhood clubs, Rayo continually punches above its weight. The Madrid-based club from the left-leaning neighborhood of Vallecas has become synonymous with offensive and attractive football in recent seasons. Herrera knows Rayo manager Íñigo Pérez from their time together in Bilbao, and expects much of the same this season.

Celta de Vigo

Keeping club star Iago Aspas and signing Bryan Zaragoza on loan from Bayern Munich have been positive moves for Celta this offseason. Herrera has been impressed with the Galician club and expects it to challenge for Europe this season. He has been particularly impressed with manager Claudio Giráldez’s ability to bed-in academy players.

Real Betis is hoping to reunite Isco and Antony, a formidable duo that almost led the club to European glory last season. Getty Images

Real Betis

Betis continues to improve under Manuel Pellegrini. The green and whites play excellent attacking soccer and with Isco pulling the strings there is always a chance Betis could upset a big club. Betis is still pushing to bring back Manchester United winger Antony, and has upgraded its goalkeeping with the addition of Álvaro Valles.

Sevilla

One of the biggest clubs in Spain, Sevilla is always a threat. “The last couple of years, they’ve struggled to qualify for Europe,” notes Herrera, but the Sevilla fanbase is strong, the atmosphere at the José Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium is always fantastic, and the club remains the face of the Europa League having won the European trophy more than any other club.

It’s all to play for in La Liga. And it begins Friday, August 15th.

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