Newcastle vs Athletic Bilbao Preview

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Newcastle United will look to maintain their formidable home record when they welcome Spanish outfit Athletic Bilbao to St James’ Park in UEFA Champions League (UCL) action. The Magpies have been dominant on home soil, while Bilbao’s away form — both domestically and in Europe — has left much to be desired.

Newcastle have bounced back superbly after their opening-day 2-1 defeat at Barcelona. Eddie Howe’s side followed that up with a commanding 4-0 away win over Union Saint-Gilloise — their largest-ever winning margin in a major European competition — before recording another emphatic result with a 3-0 home victory over Benfica. Those two results have placed the Magpies firmly in contention for a top spot in their group, and a win here would see them achieve something they haven’t managed since 2007 — three consecutive victories in major European competition.

Despite a minor domestic setback in a 3-1 loss to West Ham United over the weekend, Newcastle remain one of the Premier League’s most imposing home sides. October saw them win all four competitive matches at St James’ Park, conceding just once in that period. The Tyneside crowd continues to play a crucial role, creating one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football — a factor that could again make the difference.

Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, enter this fixture in a patchy run of form. Since beating Qarabağ 3-1 on matchday three, Ernesto Valverde’s side have endured back-to-back La Liga defeats, both courtesy of late goals, including a gut-wrenching 3-2 Basque derby loss to Real Sociedad.

The Lions have failed to win a competitive away game since late August (D1, L4), a worrying statistic compounded by their European away record — four defeats from their last five (D1), three of which came by 4-1 scorelines.

Such fragility on the road has undermined Bilbao’s solid home form and could prove costly again here, especially against a Newcastle side that has found both rhythm and ruthlessness in front of their supporters.

Historique du face-à-face

These two clubs have met only twice before, with the home side winning both encounters by a one-goal margin. That trend will give Newcastle plenty of confidence as they prepare for another clash at St James’ Park.

However, the Magpies have endured mixed fortunes against Spanish sides in recent years, losing three of their last four matches versus La Liga opposition. Still, history favours them here — Bilbao have won just one of their ten previous European away games against English clubs (D1, L8), and worryingly, they’ve lost all three such fixtures in 2025.

Only once before has a Spanish club lost four European matches against English sides in a single calendar year (Atlético Madrid in 2021), meaning the Basques are on the brink of an unwanted piece of history.

Statistiques et séries chaudes

• Each of Newcastle’s last five fixtures has produced goals in both halves.
• Newcastle have never drawn a UCL home group/league phase match (W7, L7).
• Bilbao earned fewer than three corners in three of their last four competitive outings.
• The second half has been the highest-scoring period in five of Bilbao’s six away games this season.

Key Players to Watch and Missing Players

Pour Newcastle, Jacob Murphy is proving a consistent early threat in front of goal. The winger has opened the scoring before half-time in seven of his last nine competitive goalscoring appearances, including two of the Magpies’ last three fixtures.

His direct style and ability to exploit wide spaces could cause Bilbao significant problems.

Pour les visiteurs, Robert Navarro has been one of the few bright sparks in recent weeks. The Spanish attacker has scored in two of his last three appearances, including Bilbao’s UCL victory over Qarabağ.

Interestingly, each of his last five goals has arrived after the 50th minute, highlighting his tendency to make a late impact.

Newcastle remain without Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa, both sidelined through injury. Bilbao’s selection woes are more pronounced, with Beñat Prados and star forward Iñaki Williams among several absentees, further weakening their attacking options.

Tactical Overview

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle will likely employ their trademark high-intensity approach, pressing aggressively and moving the ball quickly through midfield. The energy of Bruno Guimarães and the precision of Kieran Trippier from wide areas could again prove key, especially against a Bilbao side that struggles to deal with sustained pressure on the road.

Athletic, meanwhile, are expected to set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 shape, aiming to frustrate the hosts and counter when opportunities arise. However, their defensive structure has been leaky in away fixtures, particularly in the final 15 minutes, suggesting they may struggle to cope if Newcastle start strongly.

Analyse des paris

Newcastle’s dominance at home and Bilbao’s poor away form make this a straightforward case for backing the hosts. The Magpies have led at half-time in five of their last six wins at St James’ Park, and given Bilbao’s late collapses, a bet on Newcastle to lead at both half-time and full-time looks particularly appealing.

For those seeking alternative value, both teams to score – No could also hold merit given Bilbao’s struggles in front of goal on their travels.

Prediction: Newcastle 3–0 Athletic Bilbao

With Newcastle in commanding form and Bilbao faltering on the road, this has all the makings of another convincing home performance. Expect the Magpies to strike early, control the tempo, and add to their growing reputation as one of Europe’s toughest home sides.

Pour plus d'informations sur ce jeu, vous pouvez également visiter :
Newcastle vs Athletic Club | UEFA Champions League 2025/26