Barakaldo CF produced a lively attacking display to defeat Athletic Bilbao B 3-1 in a pre-season friendly on 13 August 2026. The home side used the match to build momentum ahead of their competitive campaign, while Athletic’s reserve team gained useful senior-level experience against a well-organised opponent.

Attacking Firepower

Barakaldo came flying out of the blocks and were rewarded inside the first 20 minutes with a cleverly worked goal. Their pressure forced Athletic Bilbao B into several errors, allowing frequent forward forays and a second goal shortly after the half-hour mark. The visitors did manage to pull one back before the break, giving themselves a foothold in the match.

In the second half, Barakaldo regained control. A third goal following good movement down the wing sealed the win, after which the pace of the game slowed as both sides made sweeping substitutions. The final result, 3-1, was a fair reflection of Barakaldo’s greater attacking efficiency in key moments.

Youngsters on Show

• Athletic Bilbao B’s starting line-up featured several players aiming to break into the senior set-up.
• Barakaldo gave a lengthy run-out to many fringe players, all eager to prove their worth.
• The friendly format allowed both teams to experiment with different tactical shapes.

Pre-Season Progress

For Barakaldo, scoring three goals against a side with Athletic Bilbao’s footballing DNA is an encouraging sign. The performance will particularly please their coaching staff in relation to fast starts and pressing intensity.

Athletic Bilbao B will take positives from their reaction after going two goals down, but they will need to be more solid defensively when the competitive season begins. Matches like this are exactly what young teams need: they expose weaknesses while providing valuable playing time at a demanding level.