The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase begins on Tuesday as Athletic Club and Arsenal will face each other in Bilbao.
Arsenal are -105 favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook for this one, with a draw available at +250. Fancy a Bilbao upset? They are +300 on the moneyline.
Athletic Club vs. Arsenal Prediction, Pick
Arsenal made it all the way to last year’s semi-finals of the Champions League before losing to eventual champions PSG. Athletic Club participated in last year’s Europa League, losing in the semi-finals to Man United. Yes, that was all the way back in May, but this is going to be a massive step up in competition for the team from Bilbao.
Arsenal have won three of their first four matches this season in the Premier League, beating Man United, Leeds and Nottingham Forest while losing to Liverpool. Athletic Club are also off to a great start this season, winning three of their four matches in La Liga. They beat Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis before falling to Alavés in their most recent match.
Despite both teams being off to a fast start this season, I am still taking the Gunners to win. They are arguably one of the best teams in Europe right now, coming off three straight runner up finishes in England and a Champions League semi-final appearance. The Gunners played 14 matches in last season’s competition, winning nine, drawing twice and losing three. Only one of those losses came in the league phase as they fell to Inter Milan in a narrow 1-0 loss. This team are experienced in this competition, and I expect another deep run from them this season.
These teams have never played against each other in a competitive match, but they did square off in a friendly match this summer. Arsenal got the better of Bilbao that day, winning 3-0. You can’t put too much stock into a friendly match, but it is still in the back of everyone’s minds. There isn’t much to go off here except for that friendly and what these teams have done in their respective leagues recently. Arsenal beat Athletic Club in that scrimmage, and they are also the better team on paper. The Gunners have been the better team in recent seasons and are acclimated to the Champions League. I only see this game going one way.
