BARCELONA, Spain (Interstat) — Espanyol hosts Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in a La Liga matchup where both teams will be aiming to rebound from weekend defeats and gain crucial ground in the congested middle of the table.

Kickoff is at RCDE Stadium on May 13, 2026.

Espanyol (1-2 at Sevilla on May 9) and Athletic Bilbao (0-1 vs. Valencia on May 10) each enter the midweek contest on the back of a loss. The setback for Espanyol extended a difficult run, with the side having lost four of its past five matches — including a 4-1 thrashing by Barcelona and a 2-0 home defeat to Real Madrid.

Athletic Bilbao’s form has been slightly more consistent, though still inconsistent. The Basque side snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win at Deportivo Alaves on May 2 before being blanked by Valencia. Prior to that, Bilbao had dropped consecutive decisions at Getafe and at home to Villarreal.

The teams last met Dec. 22, when Espanyol won 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao. That result ended a two-game winning streak for Bilbao in the series. Overall, the head-to-head has been tight, with neither side able to string together dominant runs.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, a result that would do little for either club’s ambitions. Espanyol, which has struggled to score consistently, has managed just two goals in its past four outings. Athletic Bilbao’s offense has been similarly muted on the road, with three goals in its last five away matches.

For Espanyol, defensive discipline will be critical. The team has allowed two or more goals in four of its last six games. Athletic Bilbao will look to exploit that vulnerability with counters orchestrated through its midfield.

Both teams are in the midst of a tight schedule as the season enters its final weeks. After Wednesday, Espanyol travels to Osasuna on May 17, while Athletic Bilbao hosts Celta Vigo the same day.

Wednesday’s result could have significant implications for positioning in the final table, with both clubs hovering near the middle of the standings and separated by just a few points. A draw would keep the status quo, while a victory could provide a springboard for a strong finish to the campaign.