Athletic sits eighth, chasing Europe

Athletic Club’s season has narrowed to something very simple — four league matches, one crowded table, and almost no margin left. The club confirmed on May 5 that Edin Terzić will take over as head coach on a two-year deal, but Ernesto Valverde is still the man handling the run-in right now. That timing is the whole intrigue here. Athletic are eighth in LaLiga with 44 points, outside the European places, and the finish will shape both the club’s summer mood and the inheritance Terzić walks into. (athletic-club.eus) ### Why is eighth such an awkward place? Because eighth is close enough to dream, but not close enough to control anything. LaLiga’s official table has Athletic on 44 points after 34 matches, level with seventh-place Getafe and three behind sixth-place Celta. In this setup, fifth gets Europa League and sixth gets Conference League qualifying, so Athletic are chasing two teams and need help as well as wins. (laliga.com) ### What changed this week? The big formal news is Terzić. Athletic announced on May 5 that the former Borussia Dortmund coach has signed until June 30, 2028. He is 43, won the DFB-Pokal in 2021, and took Dortmund to the 2024 Champions League final. But he will only be officially presented at the start of next season, which means this European push is still Valverde’s last job, not Terzić’s first one on the touchline. (athletic-club.eus) ### Why are people tying this sprint to Terzić anyway? Because the table and the coaching change landed on top of each other. Even if Terzić is not coaching these four matches, the ending becomes the first chapter of his project. If Athletic sneak into Europe, he inherits extra games but also extra prestige, (athletic-club.eus)ard at the finish. That is why this feels like a handoff, not a clean break. (athletic-club.eus) ### What kept Athletic alive? That wild comeback at Alavés on May 2. Athletic won 4-2 after trailing in the Basque derby, with Oihan Sancet scoring once and Nico Williams scoring twice late. The club itself framed it as a result that kept the dream alive, and that is not spin — without those three points, the gap would have looked much uglier. Instead, Athletic reached Sunday’s home match against Valencia still in range. (athletic-club.eus) ### So what are the four matches? They are clear now: Valencia at San Mamés on May 10, Espanyol away on May 13, Celta at home on May 17, and Real Madrid away on May 23. That sequence matters. Valencia is the must-win opener. Espanyol is tricky because it is away in a compressed week(athletic-club.eus) want if you still need points. (athletic-club.eus) ### Which game is the hinge? Celta, almost certainly. Athletic can make up ground before then, but the home meeting on May 17 is the cleanest chance to erase the deficit directly. Think of it like a double swing — three points gained by Athletic and three points denied to the team t(athletic-club.eus)whole season. (laliga.com) ### What is the catch? Goal difference and inconsistency. Athletic have a negative goal difference at minus-10, which tells you this has not been a stable top-six side playing below its luck. They have been uneven, and the fixture list does not offer much forgiveness. Valencia are still fighting in the middle of the table, Celta are directly ahead, and Real Madrid are Real Madrid. (laliga.com) ### Bottom line? Athletic are still alive, but barely. The Alavés comeback bought them a shot, Terzić’s arrival gave the summer a new storyline, and now the last four matches decide whether Bilbao gets a European sendoff for Valverde — or a reset for Terzić.