Battle in Bilbao: Atlético visit Athletic in top-five clash
Atlético won two 1-0 contests with Athletic last season thanks to two Griezmann goals. | Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images
Fifth hosts third in Bilbao. Atlético de Madrid head north for the Basque Country and a potentially high-octane showdown with Athletic Club de Bilbao on Saturday afternoon.
Atlético Madrid (11-1-3, 34 points) are hoping to secure a signature away win at San Mamés in order to keep its title push on track. All three of Atlético?s defeats this season have come away from the CÃvitas Metropolitano, and Los Rojiblancos have won just once from their past five trips to Bilbao.
?We?re going to meet a rival that we know very well and always competes with high intensity,? head coach Diego Simeone told the media on Friday. ?They?re very strong at home. We have to take the game to where we believe we can hurt them.?
Athletic (8-5-3, 29 points) bring a six-game unbeaten run into this matchup with Atlético ? and with a win, Los Leones would close to within two points of the final Champions League place. Captain Iker Muniain will not play Saturday due to illness, but there?s plenty of firepower in coach Ernesto Valverde?s lineup without him. Iñaki Williams (eight goals) is on pace to set a new personal best in goal contributions, while little brother Nico is one of the best wingers in Spain. Midfielder Oihan Sancet is also in great form, with four assists across the past five games.
?We need to generate a little more of everything, a...
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