Match Information

Sport: Football

Match: Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid

Tournament: La Liga 2026/27 – Matchday 4

Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026

Kick-off: 4:15 PM CEST

Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain

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There are easier places to protect an unbeaten start. San Mamés isn't one of them. Atlético Madrid arrive in Bilbao with seven points from their opening three matches and another Diego Simeone side already looking difficult to beat. Waiting for them are an Athletic Club team still adapting to life under Edin Terzić.

Two opening defeats created early pressure. A 2-0 victory at Celta Vigo provided the response. Now comes the biggest test of Terzić's young reign. Athletic have the stadium. Atlético have the form. It's Matchday 4, but both teams already have something important to protect.

For Atlético Madrid, that is momentum. Seven points from three matches have placed Simeone's team among the early leaders, and victory at one of La Liga's most demanding away grounds would strengthen the feeling that Atlético are ready to challenge at the top again.

Athletic need momentum of their own. Their opening defeats against Sevilla and Barcelona were followed by an important 2-0 win at Celta Vigo, giving Terzić his first league victory and easing some of the early pressure. Following that with a home result against Atlético would represent another significant step.

The league table favours the visitors. The setting might favour the hosts.

Form, Trends, Key Facts, Stats & Team News

Athletic Club are very much a team in transition. Terzić has already used 21 players across the opening three matches, highlighting both his willingness to rotate and his attempts to find the right combinations within a new tactical system. His preferred high-intensity approach should fit the personality of Athletic. At San Mamés, where the crowd demands aggression and commitment, the Basque side are likely to press whenever possible and try to prevent Atlético from settling into a comfortable rhythm.

The Williams brothers will be central to that plan. Their pace provides Athletic with an obvious weapon when possession changes hands, particularly if Atlético's wing-backs or midfielders are caught higher up the pitch. Oihan Sancet offers another route to goal, while Aymeric Laporte and Unai Simón provide valuable experience through the spine of the team.

Terzić does have defensive problems. Dani Vivian is unavailable with a groin problem, while Beñat Prados is sidelined by a thigh injury. Unai Egiluz remains a long-term absentee following an ACL injury. Those absences could become particularly important against an Atlético side that has already demonstrated greater attacking efficiency this season.

Simeone's team arrive unbeaten. That should surprise nobody.

Atlético Madrid remain built around organisation, defensive discipline and the ability to transform possession recoveries into dangerous attacks within seconds. There is creativity too. Álex Baena has already contributed in the final third, while Pablo Barrios provides energy and control through midfield. The major questions concern Atlético's attack. Alexander Sørloth is ruled out with a muscle injury, while Julián Álvarez has been dealing with illness and remains a doubt. If Álvarez cannot start, Simeone loses another important attacking option at a venue where clear chances may already be limited. There is also one eye on what comes next. Atlético face Liverpool in the Champions League shortly afterwards, giving Simeone another reason to manage workloads carefully.

But first comes Bilbao. And against an Athletic side desperate to build on their first victory, looking too far ahead would be dangerous.

Key Facts

• 🔴⚪ Atlético Madrid are unbeaten after their opening three La Liga matches.

• 🦁 Athletic Club have three points from three games, with one win and two defeats.

• ✅ Athletic responded to their difficult start with a 2-0 away victory over Celta Vigo.

• 🏟️ San Mamés remains one of La Liga's toughest away venues.

• 🔄 New coach Edin Terzić has already used 21 Athletic players this season.

• 🚑 Athletic are without Dani Vivian, Beñat Prados and Unai Egiluz.

• ❌ Alexander Sørloth is unavailable for Atlético.

• ❓ Julián Álvarez remains a fitness doubt after illness.

• 📊 Recent head-to-head results have generally favoured Atlético Madrid.

• 🧱 The visitors have started the campaign with better defensive numbers than Athletic.

Pro Tip Before You Start

Atlético Madrid enter with better form, greater stability and the stronger early-season numbers, but San Mamés makes an outright away win harder to trust. Athletic's intensity should keep this competitive, while Atlético's defensive structure gives the visitors a strong chance of leaving Bilbao with at least a point.

👉 Expert Tip: Atlético Madrid Double Chance (Win or Draw)

Alternative Markets

• Under 2.5 Goals

• Atlético Madrid Draw No Bet

• First Half – Draw

• Under 1.5 First-Half Goals

• Both Teams To Score – No

This has the ingredients for a physical, tactical contest rather than an end-to-end shootout. Athletic should press aggressively with the crowd behind them, but Atlético are comfortable suffering without the ball and waiting for the right moment to strike.

San Mamés will test their unbeaten start. Simeone's Atlético are built for exactly that kind of test.

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