Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
San Mames will host an exciting La Liga match on Saturday evening. Athletic Bilbao Welcome Atletico MadridBoth sides have not yet found their best form this season.
Athletic go into the competition after a 1-0 win over Valencia on Wednesday, while Atletico played out a 0-0 draw with Espanyol at the Wanda Metropolitano on the same evening.
Game Preview
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Athletic opened their 2024–25 La Liga season with a 1-1 draw against Getafe on August 15 before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona last weekend, meaning there was some pressure on them ahead of their clash with Valencia at San Mames on Wednesday.
The Lions were anything but a hit against Los Che, but secured all three points thanks to a goal in the 45th minute from Benat Prados.
Four points from three games remain Ernesto ValverdeThe team is currently in tenth place in the table and is aiming for another three points before the international break in September.
Athletic have made three new signings this summer, the biggest of which was Alvaro Djalobut their best business was maintaining Nico Williamsas Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs that are said to be keen to sign him in the current transfer window.
The last time the two teams met in April, the Basque side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Atletico, but they recorded a 2-0 victory in the corresponding match in the 2023-24 season.
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Atletico are unbeaten in the current La Liga season, but it is fair to say that the capital giants have not yet hit their stride after sharing the points in two of their first three games.
Diego SimeoneThe team drew 2-2 with Villarreal in their opening game of the season before beating Girona 3-0 last weekend. However, they were unable to build on that result and were held to a goalless draw by Espanyol at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night.
Atletico are in fourth place in the table with five points from three games and will return to action after the international break with a home game against Valencia.
The Red-Whites, who finished fourth in La Liga last season, were very active on the transfer market and signed Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher, Robin Le Normand, Alexander Sorloth, Juan Musso And Clément Lenglet to strengthen their squad.
Joao Felix was the club’s biggest departure in terms of transfer fee this summer, but they also have players like Samu Omorodion, Alvaro Morata And Caglar Soyuncu.
Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:
Atletico Madrid La Liga form:
Team News
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Athletic is currently without four injured players. Yuri Berchiche, Aitor Paredes, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta And Unai Simon not available for selection.
The Basque team had no new problems against Valencia, but it is expected that there will be a few changes in the team. Nico Williams and Mikel Vesga probably be introduced.
Djalo started on the left against Valencia and that is likely to be the case in this game too, as Nico Williams may play in a false number nine position against Simeone's team.
As for Atletico, Marcos Paulo is still not available for selection, but otherwise the capital team is in strong shape and Simeone has numerous options, especially in midfield and attack.
There will be changes compared to the game against Espanyol. Antoine Griezmann And José Giménez is expected to return to the starting line-up, while Samuel Lino could slip back into the role of full-back.
Griezmann will likely play a little deeper to allow Sorloth and Alvarez to continue to form the two strikers, but new signings Lenglet and Gallagher will likely be on the bench again at kick-off.
Possible starting eleven for Athletic Bilbao:
Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Boiro; Vesga, Prados; I Williams, Sancet, Djalo; N Williams
Possible starting eleven for Atletico Madrid:
Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Witsel, Gimenez, Lino; De Paul, Koke, Griezmann; Sorloth, Alvarez
We think: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Atletico Madrid
This is a tough match and we find it very difficult to tell them apart. There hasn't been a draw between these two sides since September 2021, but we believe a close game on Saturday will end with a division of the spoils.
Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.
