Atletico Madrid - Athletic Bilbao Preview Match

Pre Match
March 21, 2012 7:00 PM GMT
Estadio Vicente Calderón — Madrid
Referee:‬ Javier Estrada Fernández‎

Team News

Atletico Madrid

Atlético slipped to only their second defeat of Diego Simeone's reign as manager on Sunday, going down 2-1 against 10-man Mallorca. Radamel Falcao missed a penalty in that game but also scored a brilliant goal to take his tally to 17 in the league this year. Simeone has stuck with almost exactly the same starting XI for a number of weeks and with Atleti's Champions League aspirations hanging in the balance he is unlikely to make too many changes, although Arda Turan may start for the first time since returning from injury. Diego and Thiago have returned to training but are expected to miss out again due to injury. 

 

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic suffered their second straight league defeat with a 3-0 loss at home to Valencia at the weekend. The Basque side badly missed the presence of Fernando Llorente in that match and he remains doubtful with a hip injury. Captain Andoni Iraola was also sent-off last time out and his suspension will cause a reshuffle with the versatile Oscar De Marcos possibly moving to right-back and Pérez coming into the midfield. Fernando Amorebieta and Gaizka Toquero are back available from suspension and should feature.Probable Lineups

Atletico Madrid : Curtois, Luis, Godin, Miranda, Juanfran, Gabi, Suarez, Koke, Adrian, Turan, Falcao.

Athletic Bilbao : Iraizoz, Aurtenetxe, Amorebieta, Martinez, Marcos, Iturraspe, Perez, Muniain, Ander, Susaeta, Toquero.

 

Prediction

Defeats for both sides at the weekend saw them lose ground in the race for the fourth Champions League place with Athletic now four points off Levante and Malaga, with Atlético a further point behind. However, the absence of Llorente could again prove the key, as even with the great progress Marcelo Bielsa's side have made, so much of their play is based around the Spanish international striker. Atleti, despite languishing in 10th, have still only lost twice at home all season and their home advantage should see them through again in what should be a thrilling encounter.

Atletico Madrid  3 - 2  Athletic Bilbao