There’s no rest for Athletic Club as they prepare to face Real Oviedo at the Carlos Tartiere this Sunday, with both sides desperate for points in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal LaLiga clash. After a bruising midweek defeat in the Copa del Rey, Ernesto Valverde’s men have little time to lick their wounds before returning to league action, and the stakes couldn’t be much higher for either team.
Just days ago, Athletic Club’s hopes of cup glory took a hit when Beñat Turrientes netted the only goal for Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. The 1-0 home loss on Wednesday extended a troubling run for the Basque side, who have now managed just one LaLiga victory since December 6, 2025. With the club slipping closer to the relegation zone than the European places, the pressure is mounting—and Valverde is well aware they can’t afford to dwell on recent disappointments.
“It’s only the first leg […] it’s not the result we wanted. We have an important match tomorrow, there’s no respite in terms of rest days. There’s no time to dwell on it,” Valverde told reporters ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Oviedo. The message is clear: focus must shift immediately to the league, where every point is now precious.
The numbers tell a sobering story for Athletic. Since early December, wins have been hard to come by, and the club’s form has seen them drift away from the European qualification race. Instead, they find themselves in a congested lower half of the table, where a string of bad results could spell disaster. But Valverde remains optimistic, suggesting that a strong run could still turn things around. “There isn’t much difference between all the teams up there,” he explained. “Espanyol are having a great season and aren’t far away, but the teams behind aren’t far off either. The most important thing for us is to keep picking up points.”
Sunday’s opponent, Real Oviedo, has endured an even rockier campaign. The newly promoted side sits rock-bottom in the standings with just 16 points from 22 matches. Survival looks like a tall order, and with 16 games remaining, they’ll need something close to a miracle to avoid the drop. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope after their last league outing: a gritty 1-0 win at home over Girona, secured by a second-half strike from Ilyas Chaira. That victory snapped a 15-game winless streak and injected a much-needed dose of confidence into the squad.
Oviedo’s momentum was interrupted last weekend when their scheduled fixture against Rayo Vallecano was postponed due to adverse weather. The enforced break, however, may have given them valuable time on the training ground to regroup and prepare for the challenge ahead. Head coach and players alike know that every match from here on out is a must-win if they’re to claw their way out of the relegation zone.
Valverde isn’t taking Oviedo lightly, despite their struggles. “They’re playing well and always look capable of winning,” he said. “They beat Girona, and they look fresh, like a team that plays forward and isn’t afraid to do so. They always give themselves a chance to get into the game, although it’s true that maybe they haven’t been clinical.” The numbers back him up: Oviedo has the worst attacking record in LaLiga this season, with just 12 goals scored in 22 matches. That lack of firepower has been their undoing time and again.
Still, history adds an extra layer of intrigue to this fixture. Sunday marks the 85th meeting between these two clubs. Athletic Club holds the edge with 39 wins to Oviedo’s 28, and 17 encounters have ended in draws. More tellingly, Athletic has emerged victorious in each of the last three competitive meetings between the sides. Can they make it four in a row, or will Oviedo find a way to defy the odds?
For Athletic, there’s another stat that’s hard to ignore: they haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last 12 games across all competitions. Defensive frailties have been a recurring theme, and if Oviedo is to capitalize on anything, it might be this vulnerability at the back. On the flip side, Gorka Guruzeta’s recent form offers a ray of hope for the visitors. The forward bagged a first-half brace in Athletic’s 4-2 win over 10-man Levante in their last LaLiga outing, reminding fans what this team is capable of when firing on all cylinders.
That victory over Levante, however, was followed by the aforementioned cup defeat, highlighting the inconsistency that’s plagued Athletic’s season. “We need [points], because we haven’t collected as many as we wanted. All teams, for one reason or another, need victories. Our priority is this match and seeing how we can beat them. Nobody wins easily and we have to try and come away with all three points,” said Valverde, emphasizing the urgency of the task at hand.
As for Oviedo, the challenge is clear: find a way to score against an Athletic side desperate to steady the ship. Their win over Girona showed they can dig deep, but replicating that performance against a historically stronger opponent will require another level of grit and discipline. The fans at the Carlos Tartiere will be hoping their team’s newfound confidence and extra preparation time can make the difference.
Betting tips for the clash suggest a high-scoring affair, with odds favoring Athletic Club to win and more than 2.5 goals in the match. Both teams are tipped to find the net, reflecting the visitors’ defensive struggles and Oviedo’s need to attack. Still, predictions are just that—guesses in a league where surprises happen every week.
Kickoff is set for 13:00 GMT on Sunday, February 15, and with the season entering its decisive stretch, both Athletic Club and Real Oviedo know what’s at stake. Will Athletic get their campaign back on track, or can Oviedo spring another upset and breathe life into their survival bid? The answers will unfold on the pitch, with everything still to play for as the LaLiga drama continues.