Athletic Club will aim to build on their recent victory as they face off against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, with Deigo Simeone’s team eager to bounce back.
Despite all the big-money moves that Atletico Madrid have made in the ongoing transfer window, they haven’t been able to get the desired start. While Athletic Club have not had the best of starts either, they bounced back with a win last time out and will look to build on it.
The home team started the season with a disappointing draw against Getafe before suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona. It was far from an ideal start with just one point out of a possible six. But, they have bounced back thanks to a 1-0 win over Valencia.
They dominated the proceedings, created more chances and scored the only goal of the game to win all three points. While they are heading into this fixture against Atletico on the back of a win, Simeone’s team are going to make things any easier for them.
The visitors are unbeaten so far as they started the season with a 2-2 draw against Villarreal and followed it up with a brilliant 3-0 win against top-four hopefuls Girona. Their last outing against Espanyol finished 0-0 despite all their efforts to get a goal.
They had the majority of the ball and created a truckload of chances but couldn’t come out on top in this fixture. Given how they struggled to score against Espanyol, Athletic Club will surely have their chances to create an upset and get things back on track against Atletico Madrid. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Athletic Club
The home team will be without the services of Unai Simón, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta. Apart from the four everyone else is expected to be available for this one.
Athletic Club are expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Julen Agirrezabala will be in goal. Skipper Óscar de Marcos will feature as the right-back, while Adama Boiro could once against start as the left-back. In the heart of the defence, Dani Vivian will pair up with Yeray Álvarez.
Mikel Vesga could start in this one after coming off the bench last time out. He will form the double pivot in midfield alongside Benat Prados. Oihan Sancet is expected to start in a number ten role with Inaki Williams and Nico Williams starting on either flank. Gorka Guruzeta is expected to be leading their line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Agirrezabala; Marcos, Yeray, Vivian, Boiro; Prados, Vesga; Inaki Williams, Sancet, Nico Williams; Guruzeta
Atletico Madrid
Marcos Paulo is the only player unavailable for the visitors. Apart from him, Diego Simeone has a fully-fit squad at his disposal, and he is expected to stick to a 3-4-2-1 formation for this fixture against Athletic Club.
Jan Oblak will continue in goal for the visitors with Axel Witsel, Robin Le Normand, and former Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta taking charge in the heart of the defence. Nahuel Molina and Samuel Lino could feature as the wing-backs for Simeone’s team. They will look to join the attack at every possible opportunity. But their priority will be to protect the backline.
Conor Gallagher could start in this fixture after being an unused substitute last time out. He could pair up with Koke in the centre of the park. The two will look to control the pace at which this game will move.
Antoine Griezmann and summer signing Julian Alvarez could feature as the two attacking midfielders just in behind Alexander Sorloth, who is expected to lead the line for them.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Oblak; Azpilicueta, Witsel, Le Normand; Molina, Gallagher, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez; Sorloth
Key Stats
- In the 52 meetings between the two teams, Atletico Madrid have won 28 times while Athletic Club have 17 wins to their name.
- In the last meeting between the two teams in April 2024, Atletico Madrid secured an easy 3-1 win.
- In the last five meetings between the two teams, Bilbao have won three times while Atletico have won twice.
- Athletic Club have won their last two home fixtures against the Madrid-based club.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
Despite being 33, Griezmann is still the most important player at Atletico Madrid for Diego Simeone. The French World Cup winner finished with 24 goals and eight assists last season. While Los Rojiblancos have not got the desired results, the former Barcelona star already has three goal contributions in three outings. Simeone will hope his got-to man fires again as he hopes to secure all three points against Athletic Club.
Prediction
Athletic Club 2-2 Atletico Madrid
Neither club have got the kind of start they were looking for. Atletico Madrid have already dropped points on two occasions, while Atheltic Club secured their first win last time out after managing only one point in their first two outings.
While the Colchoneros have the upper hand if we look at recent form and they also have a much stronger squad, the home team will challenge them right until the end. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-2 draw between Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid.
