Atlético Madrid vs Athletic Club: Unbeaten Start on the Line

Atlético Madrid walk into San Mamés on Saturday evening with a spring in their step and an unbeaten start to protect, as Athletic Club await in their fourth La Liga outing of the season.

Diego Simeone’s side sit third in the table after three games, seven points on the board, seven goals scored, three conceded. Efficient. Dangerous. Sharpened by a summer of change, they opened with a controlled 2-0 win over Málaga CF, traded blows in a 2-2 draw with Villarreal CF, then made a real statement last time out with a 3-1 victory away to Sevilla FC.

Now comes the Basque test.

Álvarez stays, David arrives, Sørloth out

The build-up in Madrid has been dominated by one name. Julián Álvarez.
Linked heavily with Barcelona through a tense window and briefly sidelined by illness, the forward is back in full training and has been cleared for the trip to Bilbao. The speculation is parked. For now, he’s in the matchday squad and available.

Not everyone has made it.

Alexander Sørloth, Simeone’s primary centre-forward option, remains out as he continues to recover from the muscle injury he picked up in mid-August. Midfielder Obed Vargas is also still unavailable, trimming the options in the middle of the pitch.

There is fresh firepower, though. Late-window loan signing Jonathan David has been named in a La Liga squad for the first time and could see his debut minutes in one of Spain’s most unforgiving arenas. If Simeone wants a different look in attack, he has it.

At the back, there’s a significant boost. Robin Le Normand has served his suspension and is expected to walk straight back into the starting XI, restoring authority and balance to the defensive line on a night when aerial duels and second balls will matter.

Predicted Atlético XI

Simeone is unlikely to rip up a winning formula, but he does have decisions to make. A possible Atlético Madrid lineup at San Mamés:

Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Pubill, Grimaldo; Barrios, Hjulmand; Simeone, Kang-in, Lookman; Baena.

It’s a side built to press, to break quickly, and to absorb the noise that always pours down from the stands in Bilbao.

Kick-off time and TV details

Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid kicks off at 3:15pm BST on Saturday, 5th September.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on LALIGATV.

An unbeaten start, a hostile stadium, and new faces ready to make their mark: this is the kind of early-season fixture that tells you how serious Atlético really are.