Marcos Llorente is the only Atletico Madrid player to have scored against Athletic Bilbao available to Diego Simeone this weekend. The midfielder is the sole option with scoring experience against the lions in the squad traveling to San Mamés, according to a Mundo Deportivo report published this Friday.
Atletico visits Athletic's fortress this Saturday with a squad notably lacking players who know what it's like to score in this fixture. The absence of Antoine Griezmann, who scored fifteen goals and provided seven assists against the Bilbao side throughout his career, leaves a significant gap. Alexander Sorloth, author of a brace in the last meeting, will also miss the match due to a muscular injury.
Who has scored against Athletic in the past?
The list of Atletico forwards with goals against Athletic is surprisingly short currently. Julián Álvarez got one in the 2025-26 season at the Metropolitano. Koke scored in 2017 and also in 2014, but his offensive role has changed over the years. This places Marcos Llorente, with his solitary goal, as the most recent offensive reference within the team.
Analyst Walter Zimmermann underlined this point. "Marcos Llorente will be the only starter against Athletic who knows what it's like to score a goal against them with Atletico Madrid," he stated. The phrase summarizes the situation Simeone faces in preparing for the match.
How do current absences affect Athletic?
Athletic Bilbao, for their part, arrives at the encounter with their own absentee problems. Ernesto Valverde's team will be without Beñat Prados, Dani Vivian, Peio Canales, and Nico Serrano, all currently on the injury list. This depletion in midfield and defense could be a factor for the visitors to exploit.
Athletic's squad, which always relies on its youth academy and policy of only Basque players, has to reorganize. Vivian's absence in defense is particularly significant. Fans can check the full team status on our injuries page.
What role will San Mamés play?
The San Mamés stadium, always a fortress for Athletic, will be a key setting. At this ground, goalkeeper Unai Simón has had his ups and downs against Atletico, even scoring two own goals in recent matches. The pressure from the local crowd can be a double-edged sword.
For Simeone, the strategy will likely involve containment and seeking a fast counter-attack where Llorente can deploy his speed. Ball possession and game management will be essential on a pitch where Athletic rarely falls easily. The league calendar shows the importance of adding points in difficult away games, something that can be followed in our standings section.
The Saturday match at San Mamés represents a new chapter in this historic clash. With absences on both sides, the battle in midfield will decide the course of the encounter. Atletico Madrid will look to break their particular scoring drought against a rival defending its home strength with several important absences in defense.
