Atletico Madrid will be bidding to bounce back from successive defeats when they welcome Athletic Bilbao to Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night for a huge match in La Liga.
Diego Simeone's side are currently fourth in the table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, with the two teams seemingly locked in a head-to-head battle for a Champions League spot.
Match preview
© Reuters
Atletico took a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund on April 16, but they suffered a 4-2 defeat in Germany to exit the competition 5-4 on aggregate.
There was a European hangover for the capital giants in the league last weekend, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Alaves, with the result leaving them on 61 points from their 32 matches in Spain's top flight this term.
Simeone's side are far from comfortable when it comes to a position in the top four, sitting only three points clear of fifth-placed Athletic, while they are seven behind third-placed Girona, so fourth is seemingly the best that the Red and Whites can hope for this season.
Atletico will be able to lean on an excellent home record heading into this match, having picked up 43 points from their 16 league fixtures at Wanda Metropolitano this term, with only Real Madrid (44) collecting more points in front of their own supporters in Spain's top flight this season.
The Red and Whites were 1-0 winners over Athletic in the corresponding match last term, but they suffered a 2-0 defeat when they travelled to San Mames for the reverse fixture earlier this season.
© Reuters
Athletic are bidding to secure a top-four spot in La Liga for the first time in 10 years, and there has been a huge improvement from the Basque outfit this season.
The Lions have found it difficult to impress in recent years, finishing eighth in three of their last five campaigns at this level, while they were actually 16th in 2017-18, but Ernesto Valverde's side have been one of the best teams to watch in Spain's top flight this term.
Athletic won the Copa del Rey earlier this month, beating Mallorca on penalties, but they have drawn their last two at home, both 1-1, against Villarreal and Granada.
Valverde's team are fifth in the table, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Real Sociedad and just three from Atletico, so a Champions League spot for next season is certainly within reach.
A position in the 2024-25 Europa League would also be deemed a successful campaign, though, and they will be going in search of their first away league victory over Atletico since January 2011 on Saturday night.
Team News
© Reuters
Atletico will be without the services of four players through injury on Saturday, with Marcos Paulo, Gabriel Paulista, Thomas Lemar and Memphis Depay on the sidelines.
Stefan Savic, meanwhile, will also miss out for Simeone's side this weekend, having picked up a milestone yellow card in the loss at Alaves, but Alvaro Morata could return to the squad.
Marcos Llorente will also be available, having missed out against Alaves through suspension, and there is also expected to be a return to the starting side for Axel Witsel in this contest.
As for Athletic, Yuri Berchiche remains a fitness doubt, while Oscar de Marcos is unavailable due to the yellow card which he picked up against Granada.
Yeray Alvarez is likely to be introduced at right-back, with Aitor Paredes expected to be fit despite being withdrawn at the interval last time out.
Benat Prados could also be introduced in the middle of midfield on Saturday, but there will be no changes in the final third of the field, with Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams again set to support Gorka Guruzeta.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Azpilicueta; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Llorente, Lino; Griezmann, Correa
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Yeray, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; Ruiz de Galarreta, Benat; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic really have to avoid defeat here if they are to stay in the top-four race, but it will be difficult considering Atletico's excellent home record this season. We were close to backing a narrow success for Simeone's side but have ultimately settled on a 1-1 draw, which would not be a bad result for either side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
