# 2017–18 Athletic Bilbao season

The 2017–18 season was the 119th in Athletic Club’s history and the 87th in the top tier.

## Squad

According to the official website. Unai Núñez wore number 12 in domestic matches from the beginning of 2018.

### Player statistics

| S | P | N | Name | League | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Europe | Europe | Total | Total | Total | Total |
| S | P | N | Name | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M | A | S | G | M |
| 1 | GK | | Kepa Arrizabalaga | 30 | 0 | 0 | 2700 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 2790 |
| 3 | DF | | Enric Saborit | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1429 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1764 |
| 4 | DF | | Iñigo Martínez | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1440 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1440 |
| 5 | DF | | Yeray Álvarez | 7 | 1 | 0 | 675 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 314 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 989 |
| 6 | MF | | Mikel San José | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2156 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 649 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 2895 |
| 7 | MF | | Beñat Etxebarria | 12 | 12 | 0 | 1115 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 571 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 1776 |
| 8 | MF | | Ander Iturraspe (vc) | 20 | 10 | 0 | 1903 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 529 | 25 | 13 | 0 | 2448 |
| 9 | FW | | Kike Sola | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62 |
| 10 | MF | | Iker Muniain (3rd c) | 7 | 7 | 4 | 775 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 523 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1298 |
| 11 | FW | | Iñaki Williams | 31 | 7 | 7 | 2851 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 863 | 41 | 11 | 10 | 3804 |
| 13 | GK | | Iago Herrerín | 8 | 0 | 0 | 720 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1260 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2070 |
| 14 | FW | | Markel Susaeta (c) | 26 | 8 | 3 | 2268 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 772 | 35 | 13 | 3 | 3130 |
| 15 | DF | | Iñigo Lekue | 22 | 10 | 0 | 2104 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 911 | 34 | 12 | 0 | 3195 |
| 16 | DF | | Xabier Etxeita | 5 | 0 | 1 | 377 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1046 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1603 |
| 17 | MF | | Mikel Rico | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1170 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 389 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 1559 |
| 18 | DF | | Óscar de Marcos | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1663 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 630 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 2293 |
| 19 | FW | | Sabin Merino | 5 | 8 | 0 | 371 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 535 |
| 20 | FW | | Aritz Aduriz | 21 | 12 | 9 | 2149 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 1159 | 34 | 14 | 20 | 3333 |
| 21 | MF | | Mikel Vesga | 11 | 1 | 1 | 807 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 164 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 460 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1431 |
| 22 | MF | | Raúl García | 30 | 4 | 10 | 2637 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 889 | 40 | 8 | 14 | 3563 |
| 24 | DF | | Mikel Balenziaga | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1554 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 835 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 2389 |
| 28 | FW | | Iñigo Córdoba | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1457 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 552 | 25 | 16 | 1 | 2099 |
| 29 | DF | | Óscar Gil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| 30 | DF | | Unai Núñez | 33 | 0 | 1 | 2942 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 225 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 3167 |
| 34 | DF | | Andoni López | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| 40 | MF | | Iñigo Muñoz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Players left the club or on loan in winter transfer window ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | | Eneko Bóveda | 6 | 0 | 0 | 523 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 134 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 657 |
| 4 | DF | | Aymeric Laporte | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1710 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 900 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 2700 |
| 23 | MF | | Ager Aketxe | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 155 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 74 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 263 |

### Disciplinary record

Iñigo Martínez' and Iñaki Williams' yellow cards against Celta Vigo on matchday 30 were removed in April 2018.
| S | P | Name | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Europe | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Kepa Arrizabalaga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Enric Saborit | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Iñigo Martínez | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Yeray Álvarez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Mikel San José | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Beñat Etxebarria | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Ander Iturraspe | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Kike Sola | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Iker Muniain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | Iñaki Williams | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Iago Herrerín | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Markel Susaeta | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Iñigo Lekue | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Xabier Etxeita | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Mikel Rico | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Óscar de Marcos | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Sabin Merino | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | Aritz Aduriz | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Mikel Vesga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Raúl García | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Mikel Balenziaga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | Iñigo Córdoba | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | Óscar Gil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF | Unai Núñez | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | Andoni López | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | MF | Iñigo Muñoz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players left the club or on loan in winter transfer window ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | Eneko Bóveda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Aymeric Laporte | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Ager Aketxe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

### From the youth system

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 28 | MF | ESP | Iñigo Córdoba |
| 30 | DF | ESP | Unai Núñez |
| 34 | DF | ESP | Andoni López |
| 40 | MF | ESP | Iñigo Muñoz |

### Transfer

In
| Date | Name | Moving from | Fee |
| 30 June 2017 | Ager Aketxe | Cádiz | Loan return |
| 30 June 2017 | Óscar Gil | Oviedo | Loan return |
| 30 June 2017 | Iago Herrerín | Leganés | Loan return |
| 30 June 2017 | Kike Sola | Numancia | Loan return |
| 30 June 2017 | Mikel Vesga | Sporting Gijón | Loan return |
| 30 January 2018 | Iñigo Martínez | Real Sociedad | €32M |
Out
| Date | Name | Moving to | Fee |
| 14 June 2017 | Gorka Iraizoz | Girona | Free |
| 30 June 2017 | Gorka Elustondo | Atlético Nacional | Free |
| 24 July 2017 | Javier Eraso | Leganés | Free |
| 20 January 2018 | Eneko Bóveda | Deportivo La Coruña | Free |
| 30 January 2018 | Aymeric Laporte | Manchester City | €65M |
| 16 February 2018 | Ager Aketxe | Toronto | Free |

## Staff

According to the official website.
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | José Ángel Ziganda |
| Assistant coach | Bingen Arostegi |
| Technical coach | Alberto Iglesias |
| Physical coach | Iban Urkiza |
| Recuperative coach | Xabier Clemente |
| Goalkeeper coach | Imanol Etxeberria |
| Representative | Andoni Imaz |
| Doctors | Josean Lekue, Paco Angulo |
| Masseur | Juan Manuel Ipiña |
| Physiotherapists | Beñat Azula, Isusko Ortuzar, Álvaro Campa |
| Regenerative therapist | Imanol Martín |
| Podiatrist | Sergio Bilbao |
| Material managers | Txetxu Gallego, Jon Eskalza, Iker López |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| La Liga | 20 August 2017 | 20 May 2018 | Matchday 1 | 16th | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 026.32 |
| Europa League | 27 July 2017 | 15 March 2018 | Third qualifying round | Round of 16 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 16 | +6 | 050.00 |
| Copa del Rey | 25 October 2017 | 29 November 2017 | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 54 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 64 | 67 | −3 | 031.48 |
Source: Competitions

### La Liga

League table
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 14 | Alavés | 38 | 15 | 2 | 21 | 40 | 50 | −10 | 47 | |
| 15 | Levante | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 44 | 58 | −14 | 46 | |
| 16 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 49 | −8 | 43 | |
| 17 | Leganés | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 34 | 51 | −17 | 43 | |
| 18 | Deportivo La Coruña (R) | 38 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 38 | 76 | −38 | 29 | Relegation to Segunda División |
* 1 2 Athletic Bilbao finished ahead of Leganés on head-to-head goal difference: Athletic Bilbao 2–0 Leganés, Leganés 1–0 Athletic Bilbao.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Round by round
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | D | W | W | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | D | D | D | W | D | W | W | D | D | D | L | D | L | W | D | L | W | L | D | W | L | D | L | L | W | L | L |
| Position | 12 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 |

#### Matches
### Copa del Rey

Round of 32

### UEFA Europa League
#### Qualifying phase

Third qualifying round
Play-off round

#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Athletic Bilbao | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 11 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 2 | Östersunds FK | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 11 | Advance to knockout phase |
| 3 | Zorya Luhansk | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 6 | |
| 4 | Hertha BSC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 | |
* 1 2 Head-to-head results: Östersund 2–2 Athletic Bilbao, Athletic Bilbao 1–0 Östersund.

#### Knockout phase

Round of 32
Round of 16