Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club match preview and predictions for Saturday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as two of Spain’s most historic clubs meet.
- DATE: Saturday 9th January 2021
- KICK-OFF: 16:15 (local time)
- STADIUM: Wanda Metropolitano
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Preview
One of Spanish football’s most historic fixtures takes place at the Wanda Metropolitano this weekend as Atleti host Athletic. The visitors are under new management and will be hoping to upset the current league leaders who are currently in a very strong position to win the title for the first time in seven years.
They come into this game after a humbling Copa del Rey exit though. Beaten 1-0 away to Segunda B minnows Cornella, at a ground that more resembles a sports centre than a football stadium, Diego Simeone will want a response from his players here, even though it will be a very different XI.
With Atleti so well placed in LaLiga, an early cup exit may yet prove to be a blessing in disguise in a congested season but followers of Los Rojiblancos will still be upset by the manner of the loss. In LaLiga though, they continue to churn out the results with 4 straight wins heading into this and 21 points from their last 8 league games making them the division’s form team as well as the current leaders.
Athletic meanwhile have only collected 8 points from their last 8 matches, and 6 of those came from home games against newly promoted Elche and Huesca. They have not travelled well so far in the 2020/21 season with just 6 points from 9 road games, the second worst return in LaLiga.
Marcelino is a strong appointment but it has been a real baptism of fire for the former Valencia boss who saw his side lose 3-2 to Barcelona in his opening match. He’s had precious little time to properly get his ideas across but we have already seen a switch to Marcelino’s preferred 4-4-2 formation and they will look to play on the break here again with Inaki Williams likely to be their main weapon.
Read all our LaLiga match previews here!
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Atleti Wins, 1 Athletic Win, 1 Draw.
- Atletico Madrid have won their last 5 home games vs Athletic.
- They’ve scored 2+ goals in all their home games vs Athletic since a 0-0 draw in 2015 at the Vicente Calderon.
- Athletic’s only recent win over Atleti came via a 2-0 margin at San Mames in March 2019.
Team News
Atleti have doubts over José Giménez and Joao Felix heading into this game with the latter more likely to be involved.
Athletic are missing Yuri Berchiche who suffered a hamstring injury in midweek. Raul Garcia is likely to partner Inaki Williams in attack again.
Predicted Atleti Starting Lineup:
Oblak – Hermoso, Savic, Felipe – Carrasco, Llorente, Koke, Vrsaljko – Felix, Suarez, Correa (3-4-3)
Predicted Athletic Starting Lineup:
Simon – Balenziaga, Martinez, Nunez, Capa – Muniain, D. Garcia, Vencedor, De Marcos – Williams, R. Garcia (4-4-2)
Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Predictions
Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Athletic Club
We should see a much tighter game than the entertaining match at San Mames in midweek. Atleti have kept a clean sheet in 67% of their league games this season, and it’s hard to see the visitors creating much. Diego Simeone’s side ought to be able to add another 3 points to their tally.
Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club Betting Tips (18+)
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