{"id":1397719,"date":"2025-09-15T15:07:51","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T14:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=news&#038;p=1397719"},"modified":"2025-09-15T15:07:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T14:07:52","slug":"match-preview-athletic-bilbao-vs-arsenal-16-09-25-champions-league","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/match-preview-athletic-bilbao-vs-arsenal-16-09-25-champions-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal prediction, stats, tips &amp; team news"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The 2025-26 Champions League group stage gets underway with Athletic Bilbao hosting Arsenal at the San Mames Stadium on Tuesday 16th September at 5:45pm (UK time). Arsenal were beaten semi-finalists last season, while Athletic Bilbao are back in the Champions League for the first time in 11 years. This game will be broadcast in the UK on TNT Sports 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-arsenal-to-win-to-nil-9-4-with-betway\">Arsenal to win to nil (<a href=\"https:\/\/squawka.com\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">9\/4 with Betway<\/a>)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Arsenal won four of their seven away games in the Champions League last season. That includes two wins in Spain, against Girona and Real Madrid. Mikel Arteta&#8217;s men kept five clean sheets in their eight games in the League Phase and in the Premier League this season, they have started well with three wins from their first four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only blemish on that record was a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool thanks to a stunning Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick and they can make a winning start to their Champions League campaign on Tuesday. The Gunners have won three times to nil in their opening four Premier League games this season and at 9\/4 they make plenty of appeal here for another. It&#8217;s also worth noting that Athletic Club lost 3-0 at home to Man United in the Europa League semi-finals last season, and were beaten 4-1 at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-viktor-gyokeres-to-score-first-9-2-with-betway\">Viktor Gyokeres to score first (<a href=\"https:\/\/squawka.com\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">9\/2 with Betway<\/a>)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Viktor Gyokeres scored six goals in eight Champions League games for Sporting CP last season and has started to settle into his new home in North London. The Swedish striker got on the scoresheet against Nottingham Forest at the weekend in a game where he let off four shots in the 67 minutes he was on the pitch. At 9\/2, he&#8217;s worth taking a punt on, to open the scoring on Tuesday. <\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-toplist\">\n        <div class=\"sq-toplist__items\">\n\t\t\t    <div\n            class=\"sq-toplist__item\"\n            data-entity-id=\"1381291\"\n            data-offer-id=\"1381463\"\n    >\n\t\t        <div class=\"sq-toplist__item-container\">\n            <div class=\"sq-toplist__offer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Betway\"data-placement=\"in-content-single-toplist\" data-rating=\"8.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"logo\" class=\"sq-toplist__logo\" style=\"background:#000000\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2025\/04\/29163700\/betway.svg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Betway Logo\" \/><\/a>\t\t\t\t                <div class=\"sq-toplist__offer-box\">\n                    <span class=\"sq-toplist__bookmaker\">\n                        <a href=\"\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Betway\"data-placement=\"in-content-single-toplist\" data-rating=\"8.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"brand_name\">Betway<\/a>                    <\/span>\n                    <span class=\"sq-toplist__offer-title is-tablet-visible\">\n                        <a href=\"\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Betway\"data-placement=\"in-content-single-toplist\" data-rating=\"8.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"offer\">Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a340 in Free Bets<\/a>                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <span class=\"sq-toplist__offer-title is-mobile-visible\">\n                    <a href=\"\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Betway\"data-placement=\"in-content-single-toplist\" data-rating=\"8.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"offer\">Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a340 in Free Bets<\/a>                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"sq-toplist__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/en\/go\/betway?q=gb-all-top-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-brand=\"Betway\"data-placement=\"in-content-single-toplist\" data-rating=\"8.0\" data-position=\"1\" data-placement-details=\"cta\" class=\"sq-btn sq-btn--secondary sq-btn--full\">Claim Offer<\/a>                <div class=\"sq-rating\">\n                    <span class=\"sq-rating__text\">Our Score<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"sq-rating__value\">8.0<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/betway-bonus-code-review\/\" class=\"sq-review-link\">\n                    <span>Read our review<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n\t\t\t        <ul class=\"sq-toplist__features\">\n                            <li class=\"sq-toplist__features-item\">Enhanced Offers<\/li>\n                            <li class=\"sq-toplist__features-item\">Exceptional Customer Service<\/li>\n                            <li class=\"sq-toplist__features-item\">Fantastic Promotions<\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                <\/div>\n\t\t            <div class=\"sq-toplist__item-tc\"><p>#AD 18+ New customers only. Place a min \u00a310 pre-event bet at min odds of 2.0. \u00a340 worth of Free Bet Tokens awarded on bet settlement. 4 x \u00a310 each with betting restrictions. 7 day expiry. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). 18+ GambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way\u00a0Full Terms apply<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"vcsw-sports-widgets shortcode vcsw-market-fixtures\" id=\"markets-1\"><script type=\"application\/json\">{\"sports_type\":\"football\",\"event\":{\"_id\":\"68b3ad369a2cc8b4f0211d6f\",\"sports_type\":\"football\",\"competition_season\":{\"_id\":\"683e57bb2febbf834dbca6d5\",\"sports_type\":\"football\",\"competition\":\"UEFA Champions League\",\"country\":\"Europe\",\"season\":\"2025\\\/2026\",\"start_date\":\"2025-07-08T00:00:00+00:00\",\"end_date\":\"2026-05-30T00:00:00+00:00\",\"tags\":[\"routine_fixture\"],\"stages\":[{\"stage_id\":null,\"stage_name\":\"2nd Qualifying Round\",\"standings_available\":false},{\"stage_id\":null,\"stage_name\":\"1st Qualifying Round\",\"standings_available\":false},{\"stage_id\":null,\"stage_name\":\"3rd Qualifying 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Round\",\"standings_available\":false},{\"stage_id\":null,\"stage_name\":\"1st Qualifying Round\",\"standings_available\":false},{\"stage_id\":null,\"stage_name\":\"2nd Qualifying Round\",\"standings_available\":false},{\"stage_id\":null,\"stage_name\":\"League Stage\",\"standings_available\":true}]},\"datetime\":\"2025-09-16T16:45:00+00:00\",\"name\":\"Athletic Club vs Arsenal\",\"participants\":[{\"participant_id\":\"665db71ae93e306d7f46e5db\",\"name\":\"Athletic 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Stage\",\"stage_id\":\"698b2ac481ff06d75c1e825b\",\"group_name\":null,\"group_id\":null,\"status\":\"finished\",\"status_detailed\":\"played\",\"match_time\":{\"running_match_min\":99,\"clamped_match_min\":null,\"human_match_time\":\"FT\",\"period\":\"full_time\",\"period_id\":14,\"stoppage_minutes\":null,\"is_halftime\":false,\"is_extratime\":false,\"is_extratime_halftime\":false,\"is_penalties\":false,\"is_finished\":true},\"tags\":[\"routine_fixture\"],\"venue\":\"San Mam\\u00e9s Barria\"},\"data_markets\":[{\"_id\":\"Match Result\",\"name\":\"Match Result\"},{\"_id\":\"Anytime Goalscorer\",\"name\":\"Anytime Goalscorer\"},{\"_id\":\"Over\\\/Under\",\"name\":\"Over\\\/Under\"},{\"_id\":\"Correct Score\",\"name\":\"Correct Score\"},{\"_id\":\"Player Shots On Target\",\"name\":\"Player Shots On Target\"},{\"_id\":\"Player To Be Carded\",\"name\":\"Player To Be Carded\"}],\"active_market\":\"\",\"show_title\":\"false\",\"limit_markets\":\"\",\"widget_type\":\"markets\"}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-both-teams-go-into-athletic-bilbao-vs-arsenal\">How both teams go into Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s been a long wait for Athletic Bilbao to return to the Champions League. The Basque club last dined at Europe&#8217;s top table in 2014-15, when they bowed out at the group stage. That was followed by three successive runs to the Europa League knockout stages. But they then had to suffer six seasons without continental football. Athletic returned last season with a run to the Europa League semi-finals, losing to Manchester United. But now they&#8217;re back where they want to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arsenal are now in their third successive season back in the Champions League, after a six-year absence. And they&#8217;ve gone deep both times. The Gunners reached the quarter-finals in 2023-24, and went one further to the semi-finals last season. But they suffered heartbreak against eventually champions Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal will now be hoping to continue their progress and reach the final in their quest to finally win the Champions League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-athletic-bilbao-team-news\">Athletic Bilbao team news<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Athletic will be without Nico Williams, sidelined by an adductor injury, while Aymeric Laporte has not been named in Valverde\u2019s Champions League squad. Long-term absentees Benat Prados (knee) and Unai Egiluz (ACL) remain unavailable, Yeray \u00c1lvarez continues his doping ban, and there are fresh doubts over I\u00f1igo Lekue (adductor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-arsenal-team-news\">Arsenal team news<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Arsenal face an anxious wait on Martin Odegaard\u2019s availability for Tuesday, with William Saliba (ankle) and Christian Norgaard (knock) also doubtful. However, Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) have already been ruled out and will not feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-athletic-bilbao-vs-arsenal-head-to-head\">Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal head-to-head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This will be the first competitive meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2025-26 Champions League group stage gets underway with Athletic Bilbao hosting Arsenal at the San Mames Stadium on Tuesday 16th September at 5:45pm (UK time). Arsenal were beaten semi-finalists last season, while Athletic Bilbao are back in the Champions League for the first time in 11 years. This game will be broadcast in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2529,"featured_media":1397722,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal prediction, betting tips, odds, preview | Champions League","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Get the Squawka Bet predictions, stats and betting tips ahead of the Champions League match between Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal on Tuesday 16th September.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"news-category":[],"class_list":["post-1397719","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal prediction, betting tips, odds, preview | Champions League<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get the Squawka Bet predictions, stats and betting tips ahead of the Champions League match between Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal on Tuesday 16th September.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/match-preview-athletic-bilbao-vs-arsenal-16-09-25-champions-league\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal prediction, stats, tips &amp; 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