Guruzeta in action for Athletic Club
The 36th matchday of LaLiga EA Sports continues on Wednesday, May 13, with the clash between Espanyol and Athletic Club. One side is fighting to avoid relegation, while the other is aiming for a European spot.
With data courtesy of Opta, here are some key stats, anecdotes, and curiosities ahead of this encounter, where the hosts are battling for survival and the visitors seek European qualification.
– Espanyol have won two of their last five LaLiga matches against Athletic Club (1 draw, 2 losses) – as many wins as they managed in their previous 10 meetings (2 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses).
– Athletic Club have scored in each of their last four away league games against Espanyol (1 win, 3 draws). They have never gone five consecutive visits without losing at Espanyol in the competition’s history.
– After a 1-2 victory at San Mamés in December 2025, Espanyol could complete a league double over Athletic Club for the eighth time, and the first since the 2013/14 season under Aguirre.
– Espanyol have failed to win any of their last 18 LaLiga matches (6 draws, 12 losses), matching their worst winless run in the top flight, set between October 1988 and February 1989 (19 games: 9 draws, 10 losses).
– Athletic Club won their last away league game, 2-4 against Alavés, and could secure consecutive away victories for the first time this season.
Both teams’ chances
– Espanyol have not won any of their 18 LaLiga matches in 2026 (6 draws, 12 losses) – the only team in competition history without a win in their first 18 games of a calendar year.
– Athletic Club’s goal conversion rate stands at just 8.4% in the 2025/26 LaLiga season, the lowest for the club in a campaign since at least 2003/04.
– Kike García has scored five goals in 18 LaLiga appearances against Athletic Club, his second-best tally against any opponent, behind only Sevilla (six).
– Mikel Jauregizar created four chances in the last league match against Valencia, his highest in a single game in the competition (74 appearances).
– Ernesto Valverde is unbeaten in his last six away league matches against Espanyol (2 wins, 4 draws), after failing to win any of his first six visits to the Perico side (1 draw, 5 losses).