Athletic Bilbao will aim to fill the Vélodrome with 45,000 spectators in their upcoming friendly match against OM. According to L'Équipe, around 40,000 tickets have been sold and the club hopes to surpass that number with late purchases and tourists. The opposition will stiffen with the arrival of Atlético de Madrid and RC Strasbourg in the next two weeks. Last season's chaotic campaign, marked by confusion and numerous departures, has weighed on attendances for these early matches. For comparison, the first friendly of August 2025, against Sevilla, drew close to 60,000 spectators in a time of great optimism. Athletic Bilbao have not made any new signings to date. Bruno Genesio will have to name a robust starting lineup. He has emphasized that he does not prioritize the idea of a first-choice XI, but rather a team in which everyone matters. Players who arrived late after the World Cup have been eased in. Some could start against Bilbao, for example Tim Weah, Quinten Timber, Amine Gouiri and Derek Cornelius.