Athletic corrects last season's defensive flaw

Athletic has conceded just 11 goals in 11 La Liga matches this season, already nearly matching last year's poor tally of 58 and ranking among the league's stingiest defences.

Athletic has rebuilt its defensive solidity under manager Terzic after a poor 2024-25 campaign. The Basque club conceded 58 goals last season and kept just six clean sheets, a sharp decline from 2023-24 when Unai Simón won the Zamora Trophy and Athletic was the least-scored-against team in La Liga.

This season, Athletic has corrected course dramatically. Through 11 matches (one fewer than most rivals), they have conceded only 11 goals—an average of one per game. They have kept five clean sheets: against Celta (0-2), Atlético (3-0), Alavés (0-0), Valencia (0-0) and Getafe (4-0). Only Real Madrid, Atlético and Celta have conceded fewer goals, with 10 each.

Athletic is on pace to match or exceed last season's six clean sheets and could soon challenge for the Zamora Trophy again. Unai Simón currently trails leaders Oblak and Radu, who lead with a coefficient of 0.83. Athletic also has a postponed match at Vallecas still to play.