Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Preview, Prediction, Odds, Betting Tips 31.08.2024

• Date and Time: August 31, 18:00 GMT+1
• Venue: San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Preview 

Athletic Club 

Following a narrow victory over Valencia, Bilbao will now face Atletico Madrid. Ernesto Valverde’s men had a huge advantage against Los, eventually securing a 1-0 win. This victory was crucial after their earlier loss to Barcelona.

However, Bilbao has yet to find their best form this season. Despite the victory, they struggled against Getafe in the opening round, and although they equalized in the first half against Barcelona, they ultimately lost the match.

😍 “Because we need each other, we believe in one another.”

There’s nothing like playing at San Mamés!#AthleticValencia #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/ELxEcxkDDU

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) August 28, 2024

Unai Simon’s absence is a massive blow for the Basques. Additionally, Nico Williams has not returned to form yet, but the young Spanish footballer still has plenty of time to bounce back. 

Atlético Madrid

Colchoneros have played three matches so far, drawing two and winning one against Girona. They unexpectedly dropped points against Espanyol in the last round. After a lackluster first half, they had a goal disallowed and eventually failed to break Espanyol’s defensive barriers.

Another clean sheet 🫡 pic.twitter.com/gJWm9Sqctx

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 29, 2024

Following the transfers Atletico have made, we will likely see a completely different team. Alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, they will vying for the championship, but losing unnecessary points could make the task more challenging.

Now they face a crucial match against Bilbao. The clubs have met frequently and know each other well. With no serious injury worries, Atletico will try to break a two-match losing streak at San Mames against the rivals. 

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Head-to-Head Statistics 

In the head-to-head stats between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid, the teams have a competitive history. They have played against each other 48 times since 2004. Atletico Madrid lead with 27 wins, Athletic Bilbao have secured 14 victories, and they have drawn 7 times.

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Player Focus 

Both sides have exceptional footballers in their squads. The Williams brothers were key to Athletic Bilbao’s success last season, and they are likely to be the main players for the hosts in this encounter.

➕3️⃣ 𝗟𝗘𝗧’𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢!!!

First win of @LaLigaEN 2024/25. A fine performance has seen Athletic defeat Valencia at San Mames.

🎩 Great work, lads!#AthleticValencia #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/qZvuVJCjdU

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) August 28, 2024

Atletico, on the other hand, had a prolific summer transfer window. They have signed Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth. The former Man City striker has yet to score, while Sorloth already opened his tally against Villareal. 

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Tactical Analysis 

Ernesto Valverde primarily uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, with fast wingers playing the key role. However, he sometimes switches the strategy to 4-3-3, depending on the game situation.

Diego Simeone has experimented with several formations so far. He currently prefers either a 5-3-2 or a 3-4-3 setup. For the match against Bilbao, it’s likely that he will turn to a 5-3-2 formation to bolster the defense, aiming to neutralize Bilbao’s wingers and control the midfield battle.

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Prediction 

• Football pick: Athletic Club or Draw
• Odds: 1.59 (22Bet)
• Score prediction: Athletic Club 1-1 Atlético Madrid

Bilbao and Atletico Madrid have a well-established rivalry. The past years were a rollercoaster as both sides won and lost occasionally. However, in the previous four games, Athletic Club has emerged victorious in three, suggesting a recent edge in this matchup.

We think that at San Mames, Bilbao will have a slight advantage playing on home soil. Despite missing several key players, Ernesto Valverde has a knack for reorganizing the defense efficiently to counter high-profile attackers. Nico Williams, who had a successful Euro 2024, is yet to open his tally this season and will be eager to do so. 

Atletico, meanwhile, struggled  in their recent against Espanyol and may find it challenging to secure a positive result against Bilbao. We suggest picking Bilbao or draw in this exciting clash. 

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid Betting Tip 

• Football Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
• Odds: 1.76 (22Bet)

In five of the previous seven head-to-head meetings, fewer than three goals were scored. We think that in this principal match, teams will be careful and pay attention to their defence, focusing on solid defensive play rather than reckless offensive maneuvers.

Bilbao squander a lot of real chances in the attack and it costed them points against Getafe. Atletico, on the other hand, are still in the rebuilding process. The performance against Espanyol indicated that their new signings might need more time to fully adapt.

Based on these observations, we expect defensive performance from both sides. Picking under 2.5 goals would be a reasonable betting option for this match. 

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