Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid – Prediction, Team News, and Lineups

live stream Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid score808

Aug 31, 2024 - 02:09
Aug 31, 2024 - 10:45
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Live stream Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid

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As the 2024-25 La Liga season unfolds, Gameweek 4 presents a captivating encounter between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid. Both teams are in search of consistency as they aim to climb the league table. This match, hosted at the iconic San Mames Barria, promises to be a tight contest, with both sides striving to showcase their full potential.

Match Preview

Athletic Bilbao enters this clash on the back of a narrow 1-0 victory over Valencia. The win was secured through a crucial goal from Benat Prados just before halftime. Prior to this, Ernesto Valverde's men had a mixed start to their campaign, with a 1-1 draw against Getafe and a 2-1 loss to Barcelona. Despite these setbacks, they sit 10th on the table with four points from three matches and will be eager to capitalize on their home advantage.

The Lions have had a relatively quiet transfer window, with the most significant addition being Alvaro Djalo. However, retaining the services of Nico Williams has been their biggest success, with the young winger attracting interest from European giants like Barcelona, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Athletic Bilbao will be hoping to continue their momentum before the September international break.

Atletico Madrid, under the stewardship of Diego Simeone, remains unbeaten in the league so far, albeit without truly finding their rhythm. They opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Villarreal, followed by a commanding 3-0 victory over Girona. However, they were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Espanyol in their last outing. With five points from three matches, Atletico currently sits fourth in the standings.

The capital club has been busy in the transfer market, adding talents like Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher, Robin Le Normand, Alexander Sorloth, Juan Musso, and Clement Lenglet. Despite the high-profile departure of Joao Felix, Atletico's squad depth remains formidable, with Simeone having plenty of options to rotate his lineup. The Rojiblancos will be aiming for a win to keep pace with the league leaders.

Head-to-Head Record

The historical head-to-head record between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid has been closely contested. Here's a look at their recent encounters:

  • April 2024: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Athletic Bilbao
  • October 2023: Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Atletico Madrid
  • May 2023: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
  • September 2022: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Athletic Bilbao

These matches highlight the unpredictability of this fixture, with both sides capable of securing crucial points against each other.

Team News

Athletic Bilbao has a few injury concerns heading into this match. Yuri Berchiche, Aitor Paredes, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, and Unai Simon are all sidelined, which could force Valverde to make some tactical adjustments. Nico Williams is expected to return to the starting lineup, possibly operating in a false nine role, with Mikel Vesga also likely to be included in the XI.

Atletico Madrid will be without Marcos Paulo, but Simeone has a strong squad at his disposal. Antoine Griezmann and Jose Gimenez are expected to return to the starting lineup, while Samuel Lino could revert to a wing-back role. Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez are likely to continue leading the attack, with Griezmann playing in a deeper role to support the forwards.

Predicted Lineups

Athletic Bilbao:

  • Goalkeeper: Agirrezabala
  • Defenders: De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Boiro
  • Midfielders: Vesga, Prados, I. Williams, Sancet, Djalo
  • Forward: N. Williams

Atletico Madrid:

  • Goalkeeper: Oblak
  • Defenders: Molina, Le Normand, Witsel, Gimenez, Lino
  • Midfielders: De Paul, Koke, Griezmann
  • Forwards: Sorloth, Alvarez

Match Prediction

This encounter is expected to be a tightly contested affair, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Athletic Bilbao will look to leverage their home advantage and the attacking prowess of Nico Williams, while Atletico Madrid will rely on their solid defense and the creativity of Griezmann.

Given the current form of both teams and their head-to-head history, a draw seems like a likely outcome. However, with the quality on display, either side could edge the contest with a moment of brilliance.

Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Atletico Madrid

This result would extend Atletico Madrid's unbeaten run in the league while keeping Athletic Bilbao's hopes of a top-half finish alive.

Key Stats

  • Athletic Bilbao has won just one of their last five La Liga matches.
  • Atletico Madrid has kept two clean sheets in their last three La Liga matches.
  • The last draw between these two teams occurred in September 2021.
  • Nico Williams has been linked with top European clubs but remains committed to Athletic Bilbao.

Conclusion

The clash between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid is set to be a fascinating encounter, with both teams eager to assert themselves in the early stages of the La Liga season. While Atletico Madrid has the edge in terms of squad depth and recent form, Athletic Bilbao's home advantage and fighting spirit could make this a closely fought contest.

As the players take to the pitch at San Mames, fans can expect a game filled with intensity, tactical battles, and potentially, a few surprises. Will Atletico Madrid continue their unbeaten run, or will Athletic Bilbao secure a crucial victory on home soil? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – this is a match you won't want to miss.