Prediction: Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid

Athletic Bilbao host Atletico Madrid at San Mamés in matchday 4 of La Liga, with the visitors arriving as provisional league leaders and the home side still searching for consistency after a rough opening month.

Atletico also have a Champions League trip to face Liverpool in midweek, which adds a small rotation risk to an otherwise straightforward away assignment.

Verdict: Atletico Madrid to win
Best Odds: 2.42
Bookmaker: 22Bet

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic have had a mixed start to the season, a 1-3 home defeat to Sevilla and a 0-2 loss at Barcelona bracketing their first win of the campaign, 2-0 away at Celta Vigo with goals from Berenguer and Navarro.

That leaves them with 3 points and 12th place after three matches, with 3 goals scored against 5 conceded.

San Mamés remains a difficult place to visit regardless of form, but this is a team still finding its rhythm rather than one riding any real momentum into a game against the league’s form side.

Athletic Bilbao Team News

Yeray Álvarez, Beñat Prados, and Egiluz are all out for Athletic.

The absences add to an already stretched squad given Athletic’s early-season defensive numbers.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico have been the form team in La Liga so far, unbeaten through three matches for 7 points and provisional top spot, a 2-0 win over Malaga, a 3-1 win at Sevilla, and a 2-2 draw with Villarreal.

Alex Baena has been the standout performer, scoring 3 goals in those three matches including a brace against Sevilla, with Ademola Lookman also on the scoresheet in that game.

The attacking numbers, 7 goals scored against 3 conceded, back up the eye test that this is a sharper, more offensive Atletico side than Diego Simeone has typically fielded in recent seasons.

Atletico Madrid Team News

Alexander Sorloth remains out through a muscle injury that has kept him sidelined since before the season started.

Robin Le Normand returns from suspension. Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Lemar Fofana, and Johnny Cardoso Vargas were not included in the matchday squad for reasons that are way too obvious, especially when it comes to wantaway Alvarez.

Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid Key Factors to Consider

• Atletico Madrid are unbeaten through three matches and sit top of La Liga on 7 points, with a plus-4 goal difference (7 scored, 3 conceded).
• Athletic Bilbao have conceded 5 goals in three matches while scoring only 3, and needed a 2-0 win at Celta Vigo just to open their account for the season.
• Alex Baena has scored 3 goals in Atletico’s first three league matches, including a brace in the win at Sevilla.
• Atletico face Liverpool away in the Champions League in midweek, a factor that could shape Simeone’s squad rotation for this trip to Bilbao.
• Historically this fixture has favored Atletico Madrid by a wide margin, with 83 wins to Athletic’s 64 across their full history, and Atletico won the reverse fixture 3-2 last season after trailing at halftime.

Conclusion

Atletico arrive as the form team in Spain, unbeaten and scoring freely, against an Athletic side still working out its early-season identity after back-to-back defeats to Sevilla and Barcelona.

The Champions League fixture in midweek is worth watching for rotation, but Atletico’s overall quality gap and current form should be enough at San Mamés. Atletico Madrid to win is the pick.

Verdict: Atletico Madrid to win
Best Odds: 2.42
Bookmaker: 22Bet

Soccer Predictions

Soccer Predictions

Soccer Predictions

Prediction: Real Sociedad vs Celta Vigo

Soccer Predictions

Soccer Predictions

Prediction: Cagliari vs Hellas Verona

Championship News

Prediction: Queens Park Rangers vs Cardiff City

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Advertisement