With just one point separating the two sides in the standings, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid should content a closely fought encounter on Wednesday evening.

Having entered the new season with an unchanged squad but with a new head coach, los Leones enjoyed a pretty good start.

Athletic recorded a double win over Panathinaikos to reach the Europa League group stages, before holding Hertha Berlin to a goalless draw in the first group fixture.

Meanwhile, los Leones recovered well from the opening stalemate against Getafe to defeat Eibar and Girona, only to be beaten by very good Las Palmas side last time out.

Athletic players have every right to dread the game against Atletico Madrid considering that they are winless in last 10 meetings with los Colchoneros.

And with Atletico winning eight of those games, los Leones will have to show a serious improvement if they want to end the barren run.

Talented footballer Yeray Alvarez has resumed training after undergoing chemotherapy treatment, but he is unlikely to be in contention for Wednesday’s clash. Mikel Rico and Oscar de Marcos are rated doubtful.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Kepa – Lekue, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga – San Jose, Vesga – Williams, Raul Garcia, Muniain – Aduriz.

Atletico Madrid have had a somewhat slow start to the new campaign, but it appears they are slowly raising their form.

Three draws in first five matches of the season are too much for a club of Atletico’s caliber, but the back line seems to have been sorted, which is definitely a step in the right direction.

Los Colchoneros have now kept three clean sheets in a row, and with Antoine Griezmann back from suspension, their goalscoring record should improve as well.

Atletico Madrid have been made 2.30 (13/10) to win at San Mames and extend the excellent run of results in meetings with Athletic Club.

Los Colchoneros will be buoyed by the victory at the grand opening of new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, where Antoine Griezmann scored the winner on his return.

Sime Vrsaljko and Jose Maria Gimenez have resumed training, but in-form Angel Correa missed the first training of the week through injury.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Oblak – Juanfran, Godin, L. Hernandez, Filipe Luis – Saul, Partey, Gabi, Koke – Griezmann, Carrasco.