Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid (LaLiga MD34)

San Mamés hosts an authentic LaLiga classic this Saturday night. Atlético Madrid visit Bilbao to face Athletic Club in what is a crucial tie for both sides. Matches between the Lions and the Colchoneros are always special, and this one will be no different.

There is a lot at stake. Atletico Madrid, fourth in the league table, want to secure a Champions League place, while Athletic are looking to reduce the gap to Villarreal CF for a place in the Conference League. It will no doubt be an all-out fight for the three points.

Match Info
Atlético Madrid (Matchday 34)

San Mamés (Bilbao)

LaLiga Santander 2021/22

Saturday April 30, 21:00 CEST

Match Tickets

The last few remaining tickets are available on our official ticket channel. Click the image above or this link to search tickets.

How to Watch

Use our TV guide to make sure you don’t miss the match, no matter where you are in the world.

Team News

Marcelino has named a 22-man squad for the fixture. Defender Iñigo Lekue is back in the squad, but forwards Asier Villalibre and Oihan Sancet remain sidelined.

Marcelino’s Comments

Catch up with what the Gaffer had to say at his pre-match press conference.

The Opponents

On 26 April 1903, Athletic Club Madrid was founded by a group of Basque students who wished to start a new club. Atlético Madrid began wearing red and white shirts on 22 January 1911, giving rise to the nickname “colchoneros” (matress makers), due strip’s similarity to the mattress covers of the time.

With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, official competitions were suspended and when the war ended, the club merged with Aviación Nacional, the Air Force’s sporting arm, and took the new name, Athletic Aviación Madrid. In 1947, the club was renamed to what we know today, Atlético Madrid.

Atlético Madrid are the most successful Spanish sides in history, having won more than thirty domestic and continental trophies, including 11 LaLiga titles, 10 Copas del Rey, one European Cup Winners’ Cup and three Europa Leagues. What’s more, they are one of the ten founding LaLiga clubs, taking part in the inaugural 1929 season, and they have since spent a total of 84 seasons in the top flight.

Currently, the Madrid-based outfit are fourth in the league with 61 points. Managed by Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid are fully immersed in the battle for a Champions League spot and arrive at San Mamés with just one defeat in their last five games. They lost to RCD Mallorca, drew against Granada CF, but neither Rayo Vallecano, Alavés nor RCD Espanyol managed to beat them.

LaLiga position: 4th

Form over last five LaLiga matches: WWLWD

Last LaLiga match: 0-0 vs Granada CF (H)

Previous Meetings
Since their first LaLiga clash in the 1928/29 season, Athletic and Atlético Madrid have played a total of 169 matches, with the Lions winning 62, drawing 31 and losing 76.

In terms of matches played at San Mamés, Athletic have a favourable record with 43 wins, 16 draws and 25 defeats.

As for the last five meetings between the two teams, Los Rojiblancos have won two matches, drawn two and lost one.

The Lions beat Atlético 2-1 in last season’s fixture in Bilbao. Alex Berenguer opened the scoring in the eighth minute before Stefan Savic pulled one back for the visitors in the second half. However, Iñigo Martínez ensured Athletic took all three points thanks to a thumping header in the 86th minute.