San Mamés Set for Basque Derby: Athletic Bilbao vs Deportivo Alavés

San Mamés will breathe differently on September 20. A midweek night, a Basque derby, and two clubs already pulling at the threads of their new LaLiga story.

Athletic Bilbao host Deportivo Alavés with recent history, contrasting form and a restless fanbase all swirling into one sharp fixture. The last time these sides met, back in May, Athletic walked out of Mendizorrotza with a 4–2 win, a wild game that underlined their firepower when the mood takes them. That memory will feel distant if they don’t find a response here.

Athletic searching for a spark

The numbers don’t flatter Ernesto Valverde’s side. One win in their last five games, and that came in a pre-season run-out against Burgos CF. It finished 3–0 that day, a routine friendly victory that now looks more like an outlier than a sign of rhythm.

Since then, the story has darkened. A 3–1 home defeat to Sevilla in their LaLiga opener on August 22 cut early, not just for the scoreline but for the way San Mamés watched their team unravel. Before that, pre-season had already thrown up warning signs: a 3–1 loss to Real Zaragoza, a 1–0 defeat to Atalanta, and a 3–1 reverse against Marseille. Six goals scored, eight conceded across five matches. Too soft at the back, too flat in the decisive moments.

This is not crisis territory in late August, but it is the kind of form that makes a Basque derby feel heavier than usual. San Mamés expects a reaction, not a shrug.

Alavés arrive with a tailwind

On the other side of the mountains, Alavés make the short trip with something Athletic currently lack: momentum.

Four wins from their last five games across all competitions tell a very different story. They opened their league campaign with authority, sweeping Getafe aside 3–0 on the first weekend. Then came a 1–1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano on August 20, a solid, disciplined point that kept the mood positive.

Pre-season fed into that confidence. A 3–0 win over Castellon, a 1–0 victory away at Girona – not seismic results, but the kind that build habits. Across those five matches, Alavés have scored eight and conceded just two, with two clean sheets in the bank. The structure looks sound, the defensive line tight, the margins under control.

They do not come to Bilbao as underdogs hoping for chaos. They come as a side that knows exactly what it is right now.

A derby with recent scars

The head-to-heads add another layer. The last meeting, on May 2, 2026, went Athletic’s way in that 4–2 thriller at Mendizorrotza, a game that swung and swayed before the visitors finally stamped it out. Yet rewind further and the picture changes. In September 2025, Alavés walked into San Mamés and left with a 1–0 win, a result that still stings in this part of Bilbao.

Across the last five clashes in all competitions, neither side has truly dominated. Wins traded, momentum shared, even a pre-season friendly thrown into the mix. It has the feel of a derby where no one is allowed to feel too comfortable for long.

The stage, the seats, the stakes

The setting, as always, is part of the spectacle. San Mamés under the lights, the red-and-white stands stacked high, the away corner a sharp blue wedge of Alavés noise. Official kick-off time and broadcast details remain unconfirmed, but the date is set and the city is already circling it.

For those planning to be inside the cathedral rather than watching from afar, the routes are familiar:

• Official club sales: As hosts, Athletic’s online ticket portal will carry the main bulk of general admission and VIP seats, usually opening sales to the wider public around two to three weeks before the game. The San Mamés ticket office typically operates the day before and on matchday itself, if any seats remain.
• Away end: Alavés fans wanting a place in the visitors’ section must go through their own club’s official channels, with priority for members and subscribers. In a derby, those allocations vanish quickly.
• Resale market: If the official allocation dries up, secondary platforms such as StubHub tend to pick up the slack. Entry-level resale tickets often start around €68–€79 and can climb into the €120–€140+ bracket for better views as demand spikes closer to kick-off.

Inside the ground, the price ladder is clear enough. Standard general admission through Athletic’s channels usually runs from about €35 to €80 for upper ring, goal-end or side-stand seats. Those wanting to sit closer to the action – lower tiers, central side, main stand – can expect to pay in the region of €85 to €150.

For the corporate feel, VIP and hospitality packages typically start around €180 and can push beyond €350, folding in prime seating, lounge access and pre-match catering. In a derby, those lounges tend to hum.

Early questions, sharp answers

Strip away the ticketing and the numbers, and the match itself comes down to something simple.

Athletic need to stop the slide before it becomes a storyline. Alavés want to turn a promising start into a statement.

One side carries the weight of expectation inside a famous old stadium. The other brings form, resilience and the memory of a recent win on this very turf. When the whistle goes in Bilbao, which will matter more – the roar of San Mamés, or the cold, current reality of Alavés’ form?