Preview: Atalanta BC vs. Athletic Bilbao – prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to snap a seven-match winless run towards Spanish groups in Europe, Atalanta BC host Athletic Bilbao at Stadio di Bergamo within the penultimate fixture of the league part of the Champions League.

La Dea haven’t misplaced because the opening matchday of this yr’s competitors, whereas their Spanish opponents have received solely one in every of their six matches in Europe heading into Wednesday, failing to attain within the final three.

Match preview

Atalanta’s unbeaten begin to 2026 continued at struggling Pisa, however Raffaele Palladino’s crew dropped factors for the second time this season towards the relegation-threatened aspect, this time failing to carry on after taking the lead by Nikola Krstovic within the 83rd minute.

Recent off the frustration of turning into solely the second crew in Serie A to concede at Area Garibaldi, thus falling 5 factors behind sixth-placed Como within the league desk, the Bergamaschi return to the comforts of the Champions League this week, seeking to edge nearer to sealing a top-eight spot.

La Dea have responded to their 4-0 hammering by Paris Saint-Germain on the primary matchday to build up 13 factors from the next 5 fixtures to rise to fifth within the competitors’s 36-team league part, albeit only one level forward of ninth-placed Liverpool on 12 factors, whereas Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur have 11 factors apiece.

All eight of the Italian crew’s targets within the league part have come after half-time, pointing to their sluggish begin and powerful end, which stands them in good stead forward of going through a crew which have had a participant despatched off in consecutive video games heading into Wednesday.

With the Bergamo-based outfit not defeating a Spanish aspect in seven consecutive conferences since beating Valencia within the 2019-20 season, the Nerazzurri will look to take advantage of the Pink and Whites who’ve been awfully shaky defensively because the flip of the yr.

Ernesto Valverde’s males have strikingly let in three targets or extra of their final three matches, dropping 5-0 to Barcelona within the Spanish Tremendous Cup, conceding three in a 4-3 Copa del Rey win towards Cultural Leonese and struggling a 3-2 defeat away at Actual Mallorca.

With no 90-minute victories secured prior to now eight matches throughout all competitions, Valverde’s crew will concern for his or her prospects of ending within the prime 24 spots within the league part.

Presently on 5 factors, the Twenty eighth-placed Spanish aspect can’t finish among the many coveted eight anymore, however they might nonetheless end within the playoff spots between tenth and twenty fourth.

Nonetheless, they must finish their three-match winless run in away video games on the continent, the place they’ve up to now scored one and conceded six, dropping at Dortmund (4-1) and Newcastle United (2-0) earlier than a goalless encounter at Slavia Prague in late November.

Contemplating Athletic Membership’s defensive struggles on the highway in Europe this time period and their latest points on the again within the new yr, Valverde’s crew face an uphill problem in Bergamo this week.

Atalanta BC Champions League type:

Atalanta BC type (all competitions):

Athletic Bilbao Champions League type:

Athletic Bilbao type (all competitions):

Staff Information

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Atalanta appeared to come back by their Pisa draw unscathed, however Berat Djimsiti (hip) and Raoul Bellanova (hamstring) are lacking.

Presumably returning to the squad this week, albeit more than likely on the bench after AFCON involvement, Ademola Lookman may play in some capability on Wednesday.

Charles De Ketelaere has netted in back-to-back Champions League video games for the Bergamaschi — scoring and helping in wins over Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0) and Chelsea (2-1) — and the Belgian goals to be decisive on matchday seven.

Whereas Gorka Guruzeta is the Spanish aspect’s main goalscorer in Europe with three targets, the ahead has not discovered the again of the online within the competitors since matchday three.

Nonetheless, he heads into Wednesday after registering 5 targets plus assists in 4 matches in 2026, pointing to some hope for the Spanish striker.

Aymeric Laporte (thigh) may miss out because of harm, whereas Benat Prados, Mikel Vesga (again), Maroan Sannadi (knee) and Nico Serrano (muscle) are sidelined.

Having ended a six-match drought with out scoring or helping, Nico Williams netted within the defeat towards Mallorca and goals to attain in consecutive matches for the primary time this season.

Atalanta BC doable beginning lineup:

Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; De Ketelaere, Pasalic; Scamacca

Athletic Bilbao doable beginning lineup:

Simon; Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche; Jauregizar, Ruiz De Galarreta; Berenguer, Sancet, N. Williams; the cross

We are saying: Atalanta BC 2-0 Athletic Bilbao

Contemplating the respective types of these two groups, Atalanta ought to again themselves to all however finish Athletic Membership’s journey on the continent this season.

The Spanish aspect have been terribly leaky defensively, and the Bergamaschi ought to take full benefit to increase their unbeaten Champions run.

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