On Saturday, September 5th, Athletic Club will take on Atlético Madrid in a crucial Matchday 4 encounter of La Liga at the renowned Estadio de San Mamés in Bilbao. This match is significant for both teams, as Atlético Madrid aims to maintain their unbeaten start to the season, while Athletic Club seeks to secure a vital victory to boost their standing in the league.
Under the guidance of manager Edin Terzić, Athletic Club has faced a rocky start to their La Liga campaign. Currently positioned 13th in the league table, the team has managed only one win alongside two defeats in their first three matches. After suffering losses against FC Barcelona (2-0) and Sevilla FC (3-1), they finally found their footing with a 2-0 away victory against RC Celta de Vigo. However, the team is grappling with several injury concerns that could hinder their performance against a strong Atlético Madrid side.
In terms of team news, Athletic Club will definitely be without Unai Egiluz, who is sidelined long-term due to an ACL injury. Additionally, midfielder Peio Canales is ruled out with a muscle injury and is not expected to return until late September. Compounding these issues, key defenders Dani Vivian and Beñat Prados are both major doubts for the match, having sustained groin and thigh injuries, respectively. On a more positive note, star winger Nico Williams has regained fitness and is expected to be included in the matchday squad, although he may start on the bench as he works to regain match sharpness.
On the other hand, Atlético Madrid enters this match in excellent form, currently sitting in fourth place in La Liga after three matches without defeat. The team has accumulated seven points, scoring seven goals while conceding just three. Their season began with a solid 2-0 victory over Málaga CF, followed by a thrilling 2-2 draw against Villarreal CF, and they capped off their recent performances with an impressive 3-1 away win against Sevilla FC. Manager Diego Simeone will be keen to see his side continue this momentum against Athletic Club.
In terms of squad updates, Atlético Madrid has welcomed back star forward Julián Álvarez, who had missed recent training sessions due to illness and was the subject of transfer speculation linking him to Barcelona. His return to full training this week is a significant boost for the team. However, they will be without striker Alexander Sørloth, who is still recovering from a muscle injury sustained in mid-August, as well as midfielder Obed Vargas. On a positive note, late-window loan signing Jonathan David has been included in the squad and may make his debut, while robust centre-back Robin Le Normand is set to return to the starting lineup following a suspension.
As both teams prepare for this encounter, the predicted lineups suggest a competitive match. Athletic Club is expected to field Simon; Areso, Paredes, Laporte, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Gerenabarrena; Navarro, Sancet, Berenguer; and I Williams. Atlético Madrid, on the other hand, is likely to start with Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Pubill, Grimaldo; Barrios, Hjulmand; Simeone, Kang-in, Lookman; and Baena.
Fans can catch the live action of the Athletic Club vs. Atlético Madrid match on LALIGATV in the UK. This match not only holds importance for the teams involved but also for the broader landscape of La Liga as the season progresses.
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