The Match Of Matchday 7 Of The Champions League 2025/26 Group Stage Between Atalanta (Italy) And Athletic Bilbao (Spain) Will Take Place On 21 january At New Balance Arena. Atalanta vs Athletic Bilbao: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Atalanta
Atalanta defeated Chelsea at home (2:1). As a result, the home side recorded their third consecutive win in the Champions League group stage and with 13 points moved up to fifth place in the standings. Thus, the team secured a place in the tournament play-offs. Interestingly, all eight goals scored by the Italians in this Champions League group stage were netted in the second half. Also note that the team has not won in their last seven matches against Spanish opponents (2 draws, 5 losses).
- The club has not lost in 6 of its last 8 home Champions League matches (3 wins, 3 draws).
- The team conceded more than one goal in only 2 of its last 8 home matches in this European competition.
- At least three goals were scored in 10 of the last 12 matches involving the Italians in the Champions League.
Potential Atalanta Lineup (3-4-3)
Marco Carnesecchi – Odilon Kossounou, Sead Kolasinac, Isak Hien – Nicola Zalewski, Ederson, Marten de Roon, Davide Zappacosta – Charles De Ketelaere, Gianluca Scamacca, Ademola Lookman.
Defender Berat Djimsiti and midfielder Raul Bellanova are injured.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao held PSG to a 0:0 draw at home. However, the visiting team failed to win for the third straight match in the Champions League group stage, and in each of those games the side also failed to score. Overall, the club has only four goals in the group stage – only Prague's Slavia have a worse total (2). In the standings the Basques have five points and sit in 28th place with a two-point gap to the play-off zone, and a defeat could cost the club its chances of reaching the knockout-play matches. Also note that the Spanish club has won only one of 11 away matches against Italian teams in European competitions (4 draws, 6 losses).
- The club did not win in 5 of its last 6 Champions League matches (2 draws, 3 losses).
- The team scored more than one goal in only 1 of its last 6 matches in this European competition.
- The Basques failed to score in the first half in 5 of their last 6 Champions League matches.
Potential Athletic Bilbao Lineup (4-5-1)
Unai Simon – Andoni Gorosabel, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Adama Boiro – Robert Navarro, Mikel Hauregizar, Alejandro Rego Mora, Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet – Alex Berenguer.
Defender Aymeric Laporte, midfielders Beñat Prados and Nico Serrano, and forward Maroan Sannadi are out with injuries. In addition, the participation of forward Iñaki Williams in the match is doubtful.
Referee
Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Matches – 6 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow Cards (Including Second Yellow) – 14;
Average Yellow Cards Per Match – 2.3;
Red Cards Shown – 1;
Fouls Per Match – 22;
Penalties – 83%.
Atalanta vs Athletic Bilbao: Match Prediction
Atalanta feel sufficiently confident at home and regularly secure positive results. In addition, the side's defensive performance is at a proper level: in the last eight home Champions League matches Atalanta only twice allowed opponents to score more than once, one of those opponents being Real Madrid. Moreover, in four of those matches the team kept a clean sheet.
As noted above, Athletic Bilbao struggle away against Serie A clubs in European competition: 4 draws and 6 losses in 11 previous encounters. Overall performance in the current Champions League group stage does not inspire confidence that the visitors can trouble Atalanta's defense: the Basques have scored only one goal in three away matches. We do not see reasons to expect a high-scoring display from the Spanish side in this tie, so our prediction is below.
Prediction: Athletic Bilbao Under 1 goal
