How will Atlético Madrid line up against Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga?

ELCHE, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Andre Da Silva of Elche CF celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Elche CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on April 22, 2026 in Elche, Alicante, Spain. (Photo By Francisco Macia/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images Coming off a midweek loss to Elche, Atlético Madrid return home to the Metropolitano to battle longtime rivals Athletic Club on Saturday night at 9 PM local time. ❤️⚪️ Todo comenzó en 1898.

Y 128 años después, en la previa del partido ante el Atlético de Madrid, una familia zurigorri se cruza con una representación del @Atleti para dejar claro que el Athletic es único. 📽️ Proyecto en colaboración con Unidad Editorial y @laliga pic. twitter.

com/bqk6xGhNMK — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) April 24, 2026 In LaLiga, Atlético (17-6-9, 57 points) remain solidly in fourth place, but the Rojiblancos have not won a league match in their last four attempts. Their gap to third-place Villarreal grew to five points after the Yellow Submarine drew with Oviedo on Thursday; eight points separate them from Real Betis in fifth. Wednesday’s match against Elche was a disappointing one for the Colchoneros .

Although there were positives — Pablo Barrios made his first appearance since March 10, Nico Gonzalez scored a memorable brace and young players like Obed Vargas, Julio Díaz and Javier Boñar had good showings, a red card-and-penalty double-whammy to Thiago Almada had Atleti down a man for an hour in the eventual 3-2 defeat. It’s no secret that Cholo Simeone has put LaLiga toward the bottom of his competitive priorities, but how hard will he go after Athletic Club on Saturday? A match marked by longstanding historical tension between the clubs, Atlético would love nothing more than a win entering Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal.