Atalanta vs Athletic Prediction 14 August 2026
🔊 Both teams are heading into the new season with the feeling that the main work is already done. Atalanta are gradually adapting to Maurizio Sarri's football and look more confident with each match. Athletic are also wrapping up their summer preparation, but for the Basques this is also a period of adjustment to their new manager's demands. In Bergamo, two teams will meet who have no intention of sitting back even in friendly matches, so the game promises to be a good test ahead of the official start of the season.
Head-to-Head
The last official match between the teams took place on 21 January 2026 and ended 2-3. Here is the comparative statistics from that match (home side - Atalanta):
- possession: 70% vs 30%;
- corner kicks: 5 vs 2;
- fouls: 8 vs 16;
- yellow cards: 1 vs 2;
- shots on target: 4 vs 3.
📊 The clubs met very recently - on 21 January 2026. Athletic won 3-2 that day. Atalanta opened the scoring through Gianluca Scamacca, but after the break the Basques completely turned the match around. Goals from Guruzeta, Serrano and Navarro gave the Spanish club a comeback victory in one of the most spectacular matches of the winter.
Head-to-head statistics Atalanta - Athletic
Atalanta Team Overview
The team's last official match was played on as part of the Friendly Matches tournament (home side - Schalke, away side - Atalanta). The match ended 0:3.
The match statistics were as follows (Atalanta vs Schalke):
- possession: 39% vs 61%;
- corner kicks: 2 vs 12;
- fouls: 9 vs 4;
- yellow cards: 2 vs 0;
- shots on target: 4 vs 7.
Maurizio Sarri's work is beginning to produce the first results. After the defeat to Feyenoord (1:2), the team improved noticeably and comfortably dealt with Schalke (3:0). The manager himself is not rushing to make bold statements, but the progress is already clearly visible. Atalanta are gradually switching to a 4-3-3 shape, controlling the ball with increasing confidence and looking far more organised without it.
The changes in midfield are particularly interesting. More and more attacks are going through Gianluca Gaetano, whom Sarri trusts with the role of main playmaker. Separate attention is being paid to Lazar Samardzic. The Serbian is gradually adapting to a new position on the right side of midfield, where he is expected not only to create chances but also to contribute actively to defensive work. There is good news in attack as well: Nikola Krstovic has already scored three goals in pre-season, and Gianluca Scamacca has finally opened his account this summer.
Work on the defence continues in the meantime. The transition from three centre-backs to a classic back four takes time, although the first results look encouraging. Giorgio Scalvini and Odilon Kossounou are gradually becoming the first-choice pairing in the centre of defence. The club has already found a replacement for Berat Djimsiti, who moved to Saudi Arabia. Thomas Kristensen is close to joining from Udinese, with negotiations almost concluded. Among the injury concerns, Isak Hien is out until October, while Kamaladeen Sulemana has suffered a serious knee injury and will miss the coming months.
Match Results: Atalanta
Athletic Bilbao Team Overview
The last official match of the current away side took place in the Club Friendlies tournament (home side - Marseille, away side - Athletic). The match ended 3:1.
The match stats are as follows (Athletic vs Marseille):
- possession: 50% vs 50%;
- corner kicks: 1 vs 5;
- fouls: 21 vs 16;
- yellow cards: 3 vs 1;
- shots on target: 2 vs 8.
The Basques had a fairly busy summer. The team comfortably beat Racing (3:0) and Burgos (3:0), though the last serious test ended in a defeat to Marseille (1:3). That result is hardly worth taking too hard, as Edin Terzić continues to implement his own ideas after replacing Ernesto Valverde.
The new manager is not abandoning the club's familiar philosophy, but is looking to make the team's play more vertical and intense. For now the squad is still adjusting to these demands, so consistency is occasionally lacking. There is also some good news on the squad front. After a prolonged recovery, Andoni Gorosabel has returned to training, having missed almost all of pre-season due to an adductor injury. His future, however, remains an open question, as competition on the right side of defence has grown noticeably.
Another significant development was the return of Aymeric Laporte. The defender had a strong last season and performed well at the World Cup with the Spain national team, playing all eight matches of the winning tournament. Terzić is now counting on building a new defensive line around the experienced centre-back ahead of the start of the Spanish league season.
Match Results: Athletic Bilbao
Prediction for the 1st half
Head-to-head matches:
- Total encounters - 1;
- First-half wins for the home side (at home) - 1; for the visitors (away) - 0; number of draws - 0;
- Average first-half total: 1;
- Today's home team averages 1 goals in the first half, while the away team scores 0.
Total Prediction
Head-to-head matches (average total):
- home side - 2, away side - 3;
- in head-to-head matches - 5;
- both teams scored: all time - 1 time; at the home team's ground - 1 time.
- Atalanta have scored at home in 15 matches in a row (Club Friendly matches).
Both Teams to Score Prediction
Head-to-head matches:
- played - 1;
- both teams scored in all-time meetings - 1 time;
- at the home team's ground - 1 time.
- Atalanta score and concede at home in 7 of their last 8 matches (Club Friendly matches).
Outcome Prediction
Head-to-head matches:
- played - 1;
- home wins - 0, away wins - 1, draws - 0.
- Atalanta are unbeaten at home in 9 of their last 10 matches (Club Friendly matches).
⭐️ Editor's Pick
Friendly matches rarely push teams to play with the result in mind, especially when only a few days remain before the season kicks off. Right now, testing combinations and making sure the attacking mechanisms work exactly as the coaching staff intends is far more important.
There are good reasons to expect that here. Atalanta are still adapting to Sarri's new football, and the switch to a back four cannot yet be called fully complete. Athletic are also in the middle of a rebuild under Terzić and have already shown in previous matches that they sometimes make mistakes without the ball. At the same time, both teams look convincing enough going forward. It is also worth remembering their last meeting, which produced five goals between them. That is why the most interesting option here looks like a bet on Both Teams to Score (Yes).
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Betting Tips: Atalanta - Athletic Bilbao
in 9 of last 10 home games (Club Friendly Games).
in 17 of last 18 Atalanta games (Club Friendly Games).in 12 of last 13 Atalanta home games (Club Friendly Games).in 6 of last 7 Athletic Bilbao games (Club Friendly Games).in 10 of last 11 games (Club Friendly Games).in 7 of last 8 home games (Club Friendly Games).in 11 of last 12 games (Club Friendly Games).in 7 of last 8 away games (Club Friendly Games).in last 15 home games (Club Friendly Games).Comparison of Teams Stats
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