Villarreal head coach Marcelino is not looking too closely at Athletic Bilbao's poor start to the 2025-26 LaLiga campaign ahead of their clash this weekend. 

After starting their league campaign with three consecutive victories, Bilbao are now without a win in their last three top-flight fixtures, the latest seeing them draw with Girona. 

Ernesto Valverde's side are, however, only three points behind Villarreal in the early LaLiga standings, though the latter have made a flying start to their own campaign. 

Villarreal have taken 13 points from their first six games, their highest tally at this stage of a season since 2015-16 during Marcelino's first spell in charge, when they finished fourth. 

But Marcelino has struggled when facing Valverde. He has not won any of his last eight matches against his opposite number this weekend in LaLiga (drawn six, lost two). 

It is his second-worst winless streak against a single manager in his entire career in the competition (Carlo Ancelotti between 2013 and 2025 - 10 games; drawn three, lost seven), which is why he is not underestimating Bilbao this time around. 

"Yes, we are seeing, and we try to have as much information as possible to prevent injuries. We will continue like this," Marcelino told reporters.

"We are seeing that mixing footballers and the performance of everyone is magnificent. This month is very important and to see what our competitive level is. 

"Against Athletic, we face a very similar situation to the one we already had against Atletico [Madrid], and we will see if we have a better response.

"In these last games, they were able to reap different results. Just as perhaps in those three initial games, they could have had fewer good results.

"I think they are a super competitive team, difficult to score goals with a solid structure and they have first-class offensive arguments. He is going to demand the most from us."

Valverde, meanwhile, acknowledged Bilbao's recent run of results had not been good enough, though he should have confidence of turning things around this Saturday.

He has won 14 of his 27 matches against Villarreal in LaLiga (drawn seven, lost six). Only against Getafe (18), Celta Vigo (16) and Sevilla (16) has he achieved more victories in the competition.

In between their three-game winless run in the league, Bilbao started their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, despite impressing against the Gunners.

And while Valverde knows improvements needed to be made, he insisted his players must put past results behind them and apply sole focus to the future. 

"We've not been very fluid, and we have difficulties when the opposition sits back," he said. "It's a challenge posed by our opponents, and we must find a solution.

"In any case, tomorrow's match is against a different opponent. A very strong side, with impressive statistics and a contender to be towards the top of the table this season.

"They have moved on some big names, but they have also signed important players and have a large squad."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Villarreal – Sergi Cardona

Much of Villarreal's good form has been down to the influence of Cardona from defence, and he will be keen to make another telling contribution here. 

Indeed, the Spaniard has provided 11 assists in 75 LaLiga matches, with only Miguel Gutierrez (12) assisting more goals in the competition since 2023-24 among all defenders.

Athletic Bilbao – Inaki Williams

Bilbao's poor run of late could be put down to Williams' struggles in front of goal, with the forward failing to find the back of the net in his first six games in the competition. 

That is his worst run without finding the back of the net since 2016-17, with Williams also attempting the most shots without scoring of any player in this league season (16).

MATCH PREDICTION: VILLARREAL WIN

Villarreal have won one of their last 13 matches against Bilbao in LaLiga (drawn seven, lost five); a 5-1 win in May 2023, which was their biggest against the Basque side in the competition's history.

However, they have drawn 17 of their 50 matches against this weekend's opponents in the top-flight (won 18, lost 15). Only against Espanyol (20) have they achieved more stalemates in their entire history in LaLiga (17, also against Real Madrid).

And what could be key for Marcelino's side is starting quickly. Villarreal have scored seven goals in the first halves of LaLiga matches this season, a record surpassed only by leaders Madrid (eight).

Bilbao, meanwhile, have not won any of their last three LaLiga matches (drawn one, lost two), their worst run without a win in the competition since November 2024 (lost three).

But they do have a good record at Estadio de la Ceramica. Bilbao have picked up points in seven of their last eight away games against Villarreal in LaLiga (won two, drawn five), having lost on 10 of their previous 12 league visits (drawn two).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Villarreal – 45.5%

Draw – 26.9%

Athletic Bilbao – 27.6%