1998–99 Athletic Bilbao season

Athletic had finished second the previous season, and though they gathered only five points fewer - all from losing instead of drawing games - this was enough to drag them down to 8th place.

The club had applied and qualified for the Intertoto Cup, but in the end declined to enter the competition.

Squad at end of season^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ESP Juan José Valencia 4 DF  ESP Rafael Alkorta 5 MF  ESP Felipe 6 MF  ESP Josu Urrutia 7 MF  ESP Andoni Imaz 8 MF  ESP Julen Guerrero 9 FW  ESP Santiago Ezquerro 10 DF  ESP Aitor Larrazabal 11 DF  ESP Jesús María Lacruz 12 DF  ESP Carlos García 13 GK  ESP Imanol Etxeberria 14 MF  ESP José Mari 15 DF  ESP Patxi Ferreira

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF  ESP Txomin Nagore 17 MF  ESP Joseba Etxeberria 18 MF  ESP Bittor Alkiza 19 DF  ESP Mikel Lasa 20 FW  ESP Ismael Urzaiz 21 DF  ESP Iñigo Larrainzar 22 MF  ESP Javi González 23 MF  ESP Jorge Pérez 24 DF  ESP Roberto Ríos 26 GK  ESP Daniel Aranzubia 27 DF  ESP César 32 MF  ESP Francisco Yeste

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 25 FW  ESP Bolo (to Rayo Vallecano)

Athletic Bilbao v Rosenborg

16 September 1998	Athletic Bilbao	1–1	Rosenborg	San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
20:45	Etxeberria 7'	Report	Strand 64'	Attendance: 36,000 Referee: Vasyl Melnychuk (Ukraine)

Galatasaray v Athletic Bilbao

30 September 1998	Galatasaray	2–1	Athletic Bilbao	Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Istanbul
20:45	Okan 16' Hagi 90+3'	Report	Urzaiz 17'	Attendance: 19,828 Referee: Graham Poll (England)

Athletic Bilbao v Juventus

21 October 1998	Athletic Bilbao	0–0	Juventus	San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
20:45		Report		Attendance: 39,000 Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)

Juventus v Athletic Bilbao

4 November 1998	Juventus	1–1	Athletic Bilbao	Stadio delle Alpi, Turin
20:45	Lasa 68' (o.g.)	Report	Guerrero 45'	Attendance: 44,584 Referee: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)

Rosenborg v Athletic Bilbao

25 November 1998	Rosenborg	2–1	Athletic Bilbao	Lerkendal Stadion, Trondheim
20:45	Sørensen 2', 50'	Report	Pérez 90'	Attendance: 15,454 Referee: Bernd Heynemann (Germany)

Athletic Bilbao v Galatasaray

9 December 1998	Athletic Bilbao	1–0	Galatasaray	San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
20:45	Guerrero 44'	Report		Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)

• 1998–99 Copa del Rey
• Athletic Bilbao in European football