Dynamic Athletic Club Poised to Disrupt LaLiga Title Battle in Showdown with Atletico

As Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid find themselves locked in a fierce contest at the pinnacle of LaLiga, with just a solitary point separating them, Athletic Bilbao has the opportunity to re-enter the title chase with a victory this weekend.

The top three clubs were involved in Copa del Rey fixtures during the week and are also juggling their Champions League ambitions.

While two may be company and three a crowd, Bilbao is eager to crash the top tier’s party in LaLiga.

Fresh off a stunning 7-1 triumph against Valladolid last weekend, they have extended their unbeaten league streak to 16 matches. Despite trailing third-placed Atletico by five points, a win against them on Saturday could significantly bolster their title aspirations.

They are set to face an Atleti side currently embroiled in intense showdowns with the two frontrunners.

Atletico recently endured a gripping 4-4 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Just three days after hosting Bilbao, they will clash with Real Madrid in a Champions League last-16 encounter.

Bilbao has a bit more time to prepare before their Europa League match against AS Roma on Thursday, but they are facing injury concerns ahead of their bout with Atletico.

While winger Nico Williams is anticipated to recover from the flu that sidelined him from midweek training, midfielder Oihan Sancet remains a significant doubt.

Sancet, the club’s leading scorer this season with 13 league goals—six of which came in the last four matches—was substituted during Sunday’s win due to a thigh muscle injury.

Atletico, meanwhile, sits on 53 points, having drawn three of their last five matches. Diego Simeone’s team understands that a victory would not only detrimentally affect Bilbao’s title ambitions but could also see them leapfrog Barcelona and Real.

Barcelona tops the league

Barcelona sits atop the table with 54 points, having executed a string of six consecutive victories to reclaim their position over Real Madrid, who sit just behind on goal difference. They will face Real Sociedad on Sunday before travelling to Lisbon for a Champions League match against Benfica on Wednesday.

Real Sociedad is currently ninth in the table yet is a mere point away from sixth place, which would grant them access to the Europa League.

In the other Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, Real Madrid edged past Sociedad with a narrow 1-0 victory and will face a challenging fixture against Real Betis on Saturday. The seventh-placed Betis will approach this match buoyed by two consecutive wins.

Betis received a boost after successfully appealing the red card shown to winger Antony during their encounter with Getafe, meaning he’s available to face Real Madrid after scoring three goals in six appearances since joining on loan from Manchester United in January.

Real Madrid, however, will be without the suspended Jude Bellingham, and midfielder Dani Ceballos will also miss out due to injury sustained in the Cup match where manager Carlo Ancelotti opted to rest several pivotal players.

Kylian Mbappe is expected to make his return to the squad after missing the Cup match due to dental issues. The French star scored both goals when Real defeated Betis 2-0 earlier this season.