The Matchday 26 clash in La Liga between Atletico Madrid and Athletic will take place on March 1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Atletico Madrid
In the previous round, the team had a successful trip to Valencia and defeated one of the league's strugglers with a 3-0 scoreline. The Madrid side extended their unbeaten run in the league to five matches (2 wins and 3 draws) and secured their fourth major victory in this season's La Liga. The club is positioned third, just one point behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Notably, Diego Simeone's team remains the best in defense in La Liga, having conceded only 16 goals.
- The club has won 10 of their last 14 La Liga matches (3 draws and 1 loss).
- No more than two goals have been scored in 6 of Atletico's previous 7 league games.
- In the current La Liga season, the Madrid side has conceded more than one goal in only one of their 13 home matches.
Predicted lineup for Atletico Madrid (4-4-2)
Jan Oblak – Nahuel Molina, Clement Lenglet, Cesar Azpilicueta, Robin Le Normand – Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo De Paul, Giuliano Simeone, Samuel Lino – Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.
Defender Cesar Azpilicueta and midfielder Koke will miss the match due to injuries.
Athletic
In the previous round, the Basque side achieved their biggest win of the current championship by thrashing Valladolid 7-1 at home. The Williams brothers were instrumental, contributing to five goals in this match. As a result, the club's unbeaten streak in La Liga has grown to 16 matches (9 wins and 7 draws). The team remains in the top four, leading their nearest rival by 4 points.
- Both teams scored in 6 of Athletic's last 8 La Liga matches.
- The Bilbao club has scored at least two goals in 8 of their previous 11 La Liga matches.
- Exactly two or three goals were scored in 6 of the Basque side's last 7 away league games.
Predicted lineup for Athletic (4-2-3-1)
Unai Simon – Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche, Oscar De Marcos, Daniel Vivian – Mikel Vesga, Mikel Haurregui – Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams – Maroane Sanadi.
Referee
Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)
Matches – 12 (La Liga, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 82;
Average yellow cards per match – 6.8;
Red cards shown – 6;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 33%.
Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic: Match Prediction
In the central match of Matchday 26, I favor the hosts. Despite the Basque side's long unbeaten away run in La Liga, the Madrid side is unlikely to allow Athletic to take points at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Diego Simeone's team is the only one in the league that has not lost a home match this season, with 9 wins and 4 draws.
Additionally, the capital club has a strong record against Athletic. In the last 13 meetings at Atletico's home ground, the Madrid side has never lost, securing 11 wins and 2 draws. It's also worth noting that the hosts have scored at least two goals in 7 of the last 9 encounters at this stadium in the league. It's crucial for the Madrid side not to drop points in the upcoming match, as it could significantly affect their standing against the two La Liga leaders.
My prediction: Victory for Atletico Madrid
