What to Know Before Athletic Club vs Atlético Madrid: How to Watch and Who Might Start
Athletic Club, the Basque side from Bilbao, and Atlético Madrid meet in the fourth round of La Liga 2026-27. Both teams are still settling into the season, and the match offers an early read on their direction.
Two teams arriving from different places
Athletic have won one of their first three league matches under new coach Edin Terzić. Defeats to Sevilla and Barcelona produced five conceded goals, so the defence is the obvious concern. The previous round offered some relief: Unai Simón kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win away to Celta Vigo.
Atlético Madrid changed their squad late in the transfer window. The match preview published by Into the Calderon says the club brought in five new players over the summer, the final one being Canadian forward Jonathan David on loan from Juventus. The same source says Julián Álvarez has decided to stay after months of transfer speculation and is back in team training, putting him in the squad for this fixture.
Where to watch
DAZN has published a Spanish-language guide for viewers in Mexico, Latin America and the United States, covering channels, streaming services and kickoff times. The exact kickoff time and full list of international broadcasters are not confirmed in these listings, so fans outside those regions should check their local rights holder before kickoff.
A likely Atlético starting XI
Into the Calderon’s preview predicts the following Atlético lineup:
- Oblak
- Llorente
- Pubill
- Hancko
- Grimaldo
- Giuliano
- Barrios
- Hjulmand
- Lookman
- Kang-in Lee
- Baena
The same preview does not offer a predicted Athletic Club lineup, so Terzić’s team selection is less clear.
What to make of the match
Athletic will be looking for signs that their early defensive lapses are not a pattern. Atlético, with a reshaped squad, need to show that the new pieces can fit together quickly. This may be early in the season, but the result will shape how both teams’ next few weeks are viewed.