Athletic Club head coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted his side face one of the most daunting challenges in European football as they prepare to take on Borussia Dortmund at the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on Wednesday night. With 81,000 fans expected to create their trademark Yellow Wall atmosphere, the Basques know they must dig deep to bounce back from their slow start in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Speaking on arrival in Germany, Valverde didn’t hide from the scale of the test: “I know what it means to play here. It’s not easy in this stadium. We’re facing one of the toughest tasks in Europe,” he told reporters. Still, the 61-year-old coach urged his players to embrace the occasion: “It’s a great opportunity for all of us. A great game, a great opponent. That’s motivation enough.”
Athletic’s form has been poor in recent weeks. Their last win came at the end of August against Real Betis, and since then they’ve collected just a single point from four La Liga matches. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Villarreal at the weekend compounded the frustration, while their Champions League campaign began with a 2-0 home loss to Arsenal. For Valverde, Dortmund represents both danger and opportunity: “Maybe we’ll have more luck here than we did against Arsenal. Dortmund are in good form, Adeyemi is sharp and Brandt is a great player.”
Adding to their woes is the confirmed absence of Nico Williams, the Euro 2024 winner who remains sidelined with a groin injury picked up on international duty. With their talisman ruled out, Valverde is expected to turn to Nico Serrano or Roberto Navarro to help shoulder the attacking responsibility. Goalkeeper Unai Simón also acknowledged the uphill battle: “We know the reality. We’ve lost too many games lately, but this is a chance to give 200%.”
Historically, Athletic’s Champions League record is modest—just three wins in 13 games—but they do have a positive track record against German opposition, unbeaten in their last six European meetings. Still, against a Dortmund side unbeaten in 13 matches this season under Niko Kovac, the task could hardly be greater.
For Athletic, this isn’t just about points—it’s about pride, resilience, and proving they can still stand tall on Europe’s biggest stage.
