Atletico Madrid go into Athletic Club vs Atletico Madrid with 7 points from 3 matches and 10 goals in their last five outings. Athletic Club have 3 points from 3 games, but their first win of the season, the 2-0 success over Celta Vigo, gives San Mames a different feel to the usual away-favourite preview.
Atletico's stronger start
The table is still early, but the gap is already clear. Atletico Madrid sit 3rd on 7 points, while Athletic are 12th on 3 points, and that is before you get to the attacking output. Scoring 10 goals in the last five outings is a solid marker for Atletico's start, especially with Diego Simeone's side already showing they can win in different kinds of game.
A 2-1 away win is how The Hard Tackle sees it, while Sports Mole go one tighter with Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Atletico Madrid. Those calls fit the form better than a home upset would. Atletico have the sharper scoring record, and even a tight game would still leave them looking like the more convincing side on paper.
Athletic's home response and the attacking detail
Athletic's opening win matters because it came with a clean sheet, and that is the sort of response San Mames can feed on. Álex Berenguer already has one goal this season and has been one of Athletic's steadier early performers, while Robert Navarro and Oihan Sancet give the hosts enough support behind the front line to make this more than a passive test.
Atletico have their own early-season attacking angle. Lee Kang-in has already delivered one La Liga goal contribution and carries a 7.1 average rating, which gives Simeone another route into games when the main focus stays on the usual Atletico intensity. Athletic will trust the home crowd and the lift from that Celta win, but the visitors' start still makes them the side to back on paper.
Saturday's meeting at San Mames should tell us whether Athletic's first win was a lift or a turning point. If Atletico keep their scoring rate rolling, they will leave Bilbao with another result to match their strong opening to the 2026-27 season.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
