Athletic Bilbao host Elche at San Mamés on 12 September 2026 for La Liga Matchday 5. Athletic sit tenth on six points from a 2W 2L record with a goal difference of plus one, whereas Elche are nineteenth with just one point from no wins, one draw and three losses, having shipped twelve goals already.
Edin Terzić and Martín Anselmi have no prior meetings as managers, Terzić having taken charge on 1 July 2026 after replacing Ernesto Valverde while Anselmi was appointed on 13 June 2026 following Eder Sarabia's departure, meaning neither coach has any tactical dossier on the other to draw from.
Athletic arrive having gone W W L L in the league, though the 3-0 demolition of Atlético Madrid shows what this team looks like when the press fires properly. Elche's record reads L L L D, their most recent a 2-3 loss to Racing Santander.
Athletic are missing three centre backs through injury: Dani Vivian, Unai Egiluz and Peio Canales are all out, with Yeray Álvarez a further doubt after entering concussion protocols. Terzić will need to reshuffle his backline and may have to adjust his 4-2-3-1 just to keep things balanced at the back. Elche's main concern is Yago Santiago, listed doubtful with a knee issue, which would push more pressure onto Fernando Niño, Tete Morente and Germán Valera in attack.
Terzić's 4-2-3-1 is built around getting Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams into one on one situations out wide and Elche's wing backs will have to decide every time whether to track the wide runners or hold their shape centrally, a problem that twelve goals conceded in four games suggests they have not been solving. Oihan Sancet operates as the creative hub and Robert Navarro's recent scoring form gives Athletic a third scoring option Elche have to account for centrally.
Anselmi has Elche set up in a 3-4-2-1 to defend and counter, though with three centre backs absent and Álvarez in doubt, Athletic's set piece deliveries into the box are a genuine avenue for Elche given the makeshift backline Terzić is forced to field. If Sancet and the double pivot press Elche's midfielders into their own half, the service to Niño dries up, which leaves Anselmi's side with very little in the final third.
Athletic have won three of the last five meetings between these sides, with one draw and one Elche win. Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Elche. Three centre backs out forces Terzić into a backline reshuffle that has not been road tested yet and the risk is genuine even if the quality gap probably holds. Elche's likeliest route to a goal is staying compact through the first hour and using Morente's width and Niño's movement to attack the space behind an exposed Athletic back four on the counter but Nico and Iñaki Williams getting into one on one situations against a defence that has shipped twelve in four games is a problem Anselmi does not have the personnel to contain consistently.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
