The match of the 8th round of the group stage of the 2025/26 Champions League between Athletic Club (Spain) and Sporting CP (Portugal) will take place on 28 January at San Mamés stadium in Bilbao. Athletic Club vs Sporting CP: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Athletic Club
Athletic Club continue the fight for a place in the Champions League knockout stage. Although the current European campaign began with 3 defeats in 4 rounds, the home team have managed to step up and improve their situation. The home team have gone 3 European matches without defeat, and while the first 2 games in that run were goalless draws, last Wednesday the club secured an impressive come-from-behind victory away at Atalanta (3:2). The side scored for the first time in 4 recent Champions League games and immediately registered only one goal fewer than in the previous 6 rounds combined. More importantly, Athletic Club climbed to 23rd place in the table, thereby moving into the playoff zone. Competition is extremely tight, so regardless of the outcome against Sporting CP the home team will need to monitor the other fixtures.
- At least 2 goals were scored in 6 of the club's last 8 Champions League matches.
- Athletic Club remained unbeaten in 8 of their last 10 European home matches (7 wins, 1 draw).
- The team conceded in 5 of their last 7 Champions League matches.
Potential Athletic Club Lineup (4-5-1)
Unai Simon – Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche – Robert Navarro, Alex Berenguer, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Alejandro Rego Mora, Oihan Sancet – Gorka Guruzeta.
Key midfielder Mikel Haurregizar is suspended. Defender Aymeric Laporte, midfielder Beñat Prados, and forwards Iñaki Williams and Maroan Sannadi will not be available due to injuries.
Sporting CP
Sporting CP have alternated home wins with less convincing away performances throughout the Champions League campaign. At home the visitors collected the maximum 12 points, while away they have only 1 point from 9. In the last round the club produced a genuine sensation by beating PSG with a 90th-minute goal (2:1). The visitors have only 1 defeat in their last 5 Champions League matches. Sporting CP have already secured a place in the playoffs and currently occupy 10th position in the table, being among the 8 teams that have 13 points. To finish in the top 8 Sporting CP need to beat Athletic Club, preferably by a big margin. Even in the event of a rout, the club's fate will still depend in part on other results.
- The visitors' away winless run in the Champions League stands at 6 matches (2 draws, 4 defeats).
- The team have scored in all 7 previous matches of the current tournament phase.
- Sporting CP have not beaten a Spanish club in 14 consecutive away European matches.
Potential Sporting CP Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Rui Silva – Ivan Fresneda, Goncalo Inacio, Matheus Reis, Maximiliano Araujo – Morten Hjulmand, Joao Simoes – Geny Catamu, Pedro Goncalves, Francisco Trincao – Luis Suarez.
Midfielder Morten Hjulmand has served his suspension. Defender Eduardo Quaresma, midfielders Giovani Kenda, Salvador Blopa and Nuno Santos, and forward Fotis Ioannidis will miss the match due to injuries.
Referee
Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Matches – 8 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow/Red Cards Shown (Including Seconds) – 22;
Average Yellow/Red Cards Per Match – 2.7;
Red Cards – 5;
Fouls Per Match Average – 17;
Penalties – 38%.
Athletic Club vs Sporting CP: Match Prediction
Both sides retain very strong motivation. Both teams will be set up to win, so we are likely to see an entertaining game with a fair number of chances. Although Athletic Club do not always produce spectacular football, they recently beat Atalanta in a high-scoring five-goal encounter. At home in this season's Champions League the home team failed to score against the giants Arsenal and PSG, but produced 3 goals in the match with Karabakh. Considering both home and away matches, the club kept a clean sheet in only 2 of their last 7 Champions League games.
Sporting CP regularly deliver open, two-way games. The club have scored in all 7 matches of the group stage this season, but they lack defensive solidity, so both teams scored in 6 of 7 matches. A similar pattern can be seen in the visitors' away fixtures, with both teams scoring in 4 of Sporting CP's last 5 matches in this competition.
Prediction: Both Teams To Score
