Atlético Madrid Unbeaten Start at San Mamés
Atlético Madrid step into San Mamés on Saturday evening with their season already humming. Three games in, no defeats, third in the table, and the sense that Diego Simeone’s rebuilt side has found its edge early.
Seven points from nine. Seven goals scored, three conceded. The numbers are tidy; the performances increasingly ruthless.
They opened with a controlled 2-0 win over Málaga CF at the Metropolitano, then showed both brilliance and fragility in a 2-2 draw against Villarreal CF. Any doubts were swept aside last time out with a statement 3-1 victory away to Sevilla FC, a result that underlined their threat on the road ahead of this trip to Bilbao.
Simeone’s squad: clarity after a chaotic summer
The noise of the transfer window has finally faded around Atlético, and that alone changes the mood.
The biggest subplot concerned Julián Álvarez. Illness kept him out of recent sessions, while speculation about a move to Barcelona refused to die. That talk can be parked for now. The forward completed full training this week and returns to the matchday squad, a timely boost for a side heading into one of La Liga’s most demanding venues.
Not all the news is positive. Alexander Sørloth, the club’s main centre-forward option, is still recovering from the muscle injury he suffered in mid-August and will not feature. Midfielder Obed Vargas also remains out, trimming Simeone’s options in the middle of the pitch.
The pressure on the forward line will be shared differently, and that is where one of the most intriguing names comes in.
New face ready for La Liga bow
Late-window loan signing Jonathan David has been named in the travelling squad and could make his first appearance in La Liga. San Mamés is a brutal stage for a debut, but Simeone rarely shies away from testing character early.
If the game opens up or Atlético need a different profile in attack, David offers exactly that: movement between the lines, sharp runs in behind, and a natural eye for goal. His presence gives Simeone another card to play in a fixture that often swings on small details.
At the back, a familiar anchor returns. Robin Le Normand has served his suspension and is expected to walk straight back into the starting XI, restoring experience and authority to the heart of the defence. With Athletic Club’s intensity and aerial threat, his comeback feels significant.
How Atlético could line up
Simeone has options, but the structure looks clear. A solid base, aggressive wing-backs, and a fluid band of attackers behind the striker.
Predicted Atlético Madrid XI:
Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Pubill, Grimaldo; Barrios, Hjulmand; Simeone, Kang-in, Lookman; Baena.
That setup offers balance: Jan Oblak’s reliability, Marcos Llorente’s energy on the flank, and Álex Grimaldo’s delivery from the opposite side. In midfield, Pablo Barrios and Morten Hjulmand provide legs and bite, freeing the attacking quartet to search for gaps between the lines.
Kick-off time and how to watch
The game at San Mamés kicks off at 3:15pm BST on Saturday, 5th September.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid live on LALIGATV.
An unbeaten start is one thing. Walking out of San Mamés still unscathed is quite another.
