Ernesto Valverde Tactics At Athletic Bilbao 2024/2025: Spain’s Best Defence, Man United’s Test – Tactical Analysis

Now that the UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg matches have finished, it’s time for the UEFA Europa League semi-finals to take centre stage.

One of today’s clashes takes place in North London, where Tottenham Hotspur host Bodø/Glimt.

Our focus turns to Bilbao, however, where Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club, a team commonly referred to as Athletic Bilbao around the world, are set to host Manchester United.

In addition to being in the Europa League semis, the Basque club currently sit fourth in La Liga.

Los Leones have the joint-fifth-best goalscoring record in the league, with 50.

However, they boast the best defensive record, having conceded just 26 in 33 games, as well as the lowest xGA (31.9).

Evidently, Valverde’s Athletic Club have been incredibly solid when out of possession this term.

Their league position, which currently places them comfortably in the UEFA Champions League qualification spots, can primarily be attributed to their defensive exploits, as can their progress to the UEL semi-finals.

Ahead of their semi-final first-leg clash with Man United at Estadio San Mamés, our Ernesto Valverde tactical analysis aims to outline the 61-year-old coach’s out-of-possession tactics.

Our Athletic Club tactical analysis explains the Athletic Bilbao style of play in all defensive phases.

Ernesto Valverde Preferred Formation

To start, let’s talk about Athletic Club’s shape in 2024/2025.

Valverde has primarily set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though this has shifted to a 4-4-2 depending on the opponent, game state, and the phase of defence Los Leones find themselves in at a particular time.

Within that structure, expect Athletic Club’s holding midfielders and wingers, in particular, to make a significant contribution to the team’s defensive efforts.

Ernesto Valverde High Press Tactics

Let’s start off our Athletic Club analysis with a focus on Valverde’s high-pressing tactics.

This phase of play has grown enormously in popularity in recent years and typically lends itself to an exciting, attractive style of play.

Valverde’s Athletic Club are not the most high-pressing side in Spain or the world.

Their La Liga PPDA for the 2024/2025 season currently sits at 11.52—the seventh-lowest PPDA in Spain’s top flight at present.

A low PPDA typically indicates a high level of pressing intensity.

Therefore, we can say that Athletic Bilbao’s press falls just above average in terms of intensity among their league rivals.

Nevertheless, it’s an essential phase of play that any team worth their salt in out-of-possession phases will want to be comfortable in.

Athletic Club will mainly utilise their high press in matches where they feel the need or feel they can take the game to the opposition.

We’re using examples from a league game against CD Leganés earlier this year, as well as their Europa League quarter-final second-leg home fixture versus Rangers.

Versus Leganés, one of La Liga’s weaker sides this season, Valverde’s side were comfortable pressing high and trying to force mistakes from their opponents.

They aimed to try and force high turnovers and get on the ball to put their qualitative advantage over the opposition to good use in this contest.