Sabasports Match Preview
Champions League: Atalanta vs Athletic Club
Kickoff Time: 2026-1-22 4:00 (HKT)
In their last Serie A match, Atalanta drew 1-1 away against Pisa, maintaining an impressive unbeaten streak with 3 wins and 1 draw in their last four league matches. Since Raffaele Palladino took over, Atalanta has finally seen a strong rebound. Under Palladino’s management, the team has achieved an impressive record of 9 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses in 13 matches.
Palladino is a coach particularly skilled at defensive counter-attacks, and under his guidance, Atalanta’s performance on both offense and defense has significantly improved. He also has effective strategies for breaking through tight defenses. Currently, Atalanta is performing well in the league, Champions League, and Coppa Italia, showcasing an excellent balance between attack and defense, indicating Palladino’s successful efforts in quickly solidifying and uniting the team.
On the other hand, Athletic Club suffered a 2-3 defeat away to Mallorca in their last match, marking eight games without a win across all competitions, putting them in a concerning slump. Statistically, Bilbao has only scored 19 goals in the league so far, placing them among the lowest in La Liga for offensive firepower, while having conceded 28 goals reveals significant defensive issues. Their performances this season have visibly deteriorated; the team lacks speed in counter-attacks and intensity in pressing, resulting in a noticeable drop in overall strength in both attack and defense.
Not only in the league but also in the Champions League, Bilbao’s performance has been disappointing, with a dismal record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses in their first six matches. Against strong teams, Bilbao seems to only be in a position to take heavy hits.
There is a significant gap in strength, form, and overall performance between the two teams. Atalanta clearly outperforms Athletic Club in every aspect. Coupled with Atalanta’s historically strong home advantage, it is believed that they will not miss the excellent opportunity to secure all three points against a struggling Athletic Club.
Atalanta’s Last 5 Games: DWWWL
26-01-17: Pisa 1-1 Atalanta
26-01-11: Atalanta 2-0 Torino
26-01-08: Bologna 0-2 Atalanta
26-01-04: Atalanta 1-0 Roma
25-12-29: Atalanta 0-1 Inter Milan
Athletic Club’s Last 5 Games: LDLDL
26-01-17: Mallorca 3-2 Athletic Club
26-01-14: Cultural Leonesa 3-3 Athletic Club (AET 0-1)
26-01-08: Barcelona 5-0 Athletic Club
26-01-03: Bologna 1-1 Athletic Club
25-12-23: Athletic Club 1-2 Espanyol
Prediction: Atalanta wins at home