Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid: Preview, h2h, team news & more as Lookman eyes another La Liga goal

Athletic Bilbao welcome Atletico Madrid to San Mames on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Matchday 4 of La Liga 2026-27, with kick-off at 3:15pm, Afrik-Foot reports.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is set to lead the Atletico attack in the absence of Alexander Sorloth, who remains sidelined by a muscle injury sustained in mid-August.

Diego Simeone’s side arrive unbeaten from their opening three league games, while Athletic are still searching for consistency under new manager Edin Terzic.

🔴⚪️ Athletic Club – Atlético de Madrid 🔴⚪️

Partido muy físico en San Mamés entre dos equipos que suelen competir con bastante intensidad, y aquí me quiero quedar con una línea individual de Sancet que me parece bastante asequible

Buscamos que reciba al menos una falta. En… pic.twitter.com/LiJlxIeMsW

— MrTips365 (@14Xabismo) September 4, 2026

Atletico sit third in the table with seven points from three rounds, having beaten Sevilla 3-1 away from home in their most recent outing. Athletic, by contrast, have managed just one win from three, losing at home to Sevilla and away to Barcelona before responding with a 2-0 victory at Celta Vigo.

Ademola Lookman in Focus For Atletico Madrid

Ademola Lookman is expected to start for in this trip to San Mames and will relish the chance to face Athletic Club in the La Liga for the first time. Lookman, who is the former African Footballer of the Year, brings a blend of pace, movement and clinical finishing that makes him one of the most dangerous forwards in Spanish football.

With Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena operating with him, the Nigerian international will look to exploit any gaps left by an Athletic defence that has conceded five goals in three matches.

Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid Match Preview

Atletico Madrid have collected seven points from the opening three rounds, with two wins and a draw, sitting third in the table. Their most recent outing produced a convincing 3-1 victory away to Sevilla, confirming Simeone’s side can dominate opponents away from the Metropolitano.

Baena has assumed immediate prominence in attack and established himself as the most decisive player for Los Colchoneros in this early phase of the season, contributing directly to goals in every round.

Athletic Club lost 1-3 at home to Sevilla and 0-2 away to Barcelona before responding with a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo at Balaidos. Terzic’ defence has shipped five goals in three matches, a worrying rate against an Atletico attack that has found the net seven times over the same period.

That said, San Mames is widely regarded as one of the most hostile grounds in Spanish football, and Athletic proved last season they are capable of beating Atletico in front of their own supporters.

The Basque squad face depth problems for this fixture, with midfield absentees likely to limit Terzic’ options over the course of 90 minutes. On the visitors’ side, the main uncertainty is Sorloth, but Simeone can call on Lookman, Kang-In Lee and Julian Alvarez as high-quality alternatives in the attacking department.

The overall reading points to an Atletico side with greater resources and stronger defensive solidity, making them favourites even on the road. The intensity of San Mames guarantees Athletic will enjoy spells of pressure, but they are unlikely to control the tempo against opponents with this calibre of squad.

Head-to-Head Record: Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid

The two clubs have met five times in La Liga since August 2024, with Atletico Madrid winning four of those encounters. Athletic’s sole victory in that span was a 1-0 home win on December 6, 2025, when Alex Berenguer scored in the 85th minute.

The most recent meeting ended 3-2 in Atletico’s favour at the Metropolitano on April 25, 2026, with Sorloth settling the contest in added time.

The overall record stands at 76 meetings, with 40 Atletico wins, 12 draws and 24 Athletic victories, though the predictive value of the more distant past is limited for a single fixture.

Team News, Injuries and Predicted XIs

Athletic Bilbao

Peio Canales is ruled out with a muscle injury suffered during pre-season. Daniel Vivian (groin) and Benat Prados (thigh) are doubts, each given roughly a 50 per cent chance of recovering in time.

Unai Eguiluz remains a long-term absentee after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in pre-season.

Aymeric Laporte, signed from Al Nassr in this transfer window, has already accumulated three appearances and is expected to retain his place in central defence alongside Yeray Alvarez.

Predicted Athletic Club XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Areso, Laporte, Yeray Alvarez, Berchiche; Gerenabarrena, Ruiz de Galarreta; Berenguer, Sancet, Nico Williams; Guruzeta. Manager: Edin Terzic.

Atletico Madrid

Sorloth is the biggest question mark in the squad, having been managing a muscle injury diagnosed on August 12, 2026, with an initial four-week recovery timeline.

Robin Le Normand was sent off in the third round against Villarreal, and his disciplinary status for this fixture has not yet been officially confirmed by La Liga.

Cristian Romero, signed from Tottenham, has not yet made his official debut and could be an option from the bench.

Predicted Atletico Madrid XI (3-4-2-1): Oblak; Pubill, Hancko, Llorente; Giuliano Simeone, Barrios, Hjulmand, Grimaldo; Kang-In Lee, Baena; Lookman. Manager: Diego Simeone.

Star Player Comparison: Baena vs. Sancet

The Managers: A New Project Meets Proven Pedigree

Edin Terzic, the 43-year-old German, took charge of Athletic this season after leaving Borussia Dortmund, where he guided the club to the Champions League final in 2023-24. He favours a 4-2-3-1 shape built on a high press and width on the flanks, harnessing the pace of Nico Williams and the creativity of Sancet to generate chances.

Simeone is now in his 15th season at the helm of Atletico, having overseen 534 matches with an average of 2.05 points per game.

This term he has alternated between a 4-4-2 and a 3-4-2-1, tailoring the system to the opponent with an emphasis on quick transitions and defensive solidity.

Tactical Preview: Terzic’ 4-2-3-1 vs. Simeone’s 3-4-2-1

This fixture pits two well-defined styles against one another: Athletic’s progressive possession and wide-channel directness against Atletico’s compact block and vertical transitions.

Athletic’s right flank, where Berenguer operates with freedom, will be a key battleground against Grimaldo, who tends to push forward and leave space in behind.

In central midfield, Hjulmand and Barrios form a pairing with strong ball-recovery ability, which could neutralise Sancet’s influence between the lines.

For Athletic, pressing high and forcing errors in Atletico’s build-up play during the opening 20 minutes will be essential to capitalise on the energy that San Mames provides.

For the visitors, controlling the tempo after the half-hour mark and exploiting the depth offered by Lookman and Kang-In Lee on the counter-attack could be the route to opening the scoring.

Tips and Predictions: Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid