In 2010–11, veteran Gabilondo was regularly used by Athletic Bilbao, alternating between the starting XI and the substitutes' bench. He equalled a career-best five goals, either from free kicks or long-distance shots, also scoring in a 2–0 home win (3–0 on aggregate)against AD Alcorcón in the 2010–11 Copa del Rey. In what proved to be his final season in Bilbao, he featured 21 times in all competitions but only completed 90 minutes on two occasions. His most significant involvement was opening the scoring with a volley in a 2–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage; the team reached the final, in which he was an unused substitute (as was the case in the 2012 Copa del Rey Final, both matches ending in 3–0 defeats).