Atalanta to host Athletic Club in Trofeo Bortolotti friendly on August 14
Atalanta will host Athletic Club at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Friday, August 14, in the Trofeo Bortolotti, with the Serie A side staging their first major home test under new head coach Maurizio Sarri and Athletic using the fixture as their final pre-season outing.
Atalanta arrive after a 3-0 win over Schalke and a 2-1 defeat to Feyenoord, while Athletic Club recorded three straight victories against Burgos CF, Racing Santander and Sestao before losing 3-1 to Marseille in their latest friendly. The teams also met in Bergamo in January, when Athletic Club recovered from behind to win 3-2 in the Champions League.
Gianluca Scamacca is a player to watch for Atalanta after scoring in the 3-2 Champions League meeting in January and again in the 3-0 pre-season win over Schalke. For Athletic Club, I. Williams finished the 2025-26 LaLiga campaign with six goals and three assists in 25 appearances and is noted for his pace and attacking threat from the left, with Gorka Guruzeta expected to lead their line.
Atalanta will be without Isak Hien, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury and is expected to return in late August, and Kamaldeen Sulemana remains a concern after suffering a left-knee sprain in the win over Schalke, with his availability dependent on further medical assessment. Athletic have defensive doubts as Daniel Vivian and Andoni Gorosabel are listed as doubtful with muscle injuries, while Unai Egiluz is sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury and is not expected back until January 2027.
Edin Terzić has called up 23 players for Friday’s friendly, with the club’s squad announcement referencing a match at Stadio di Bergamo and a 20:45 CEST kick-off; fans have been advised to check the clubs’ official platforms and local broadcasters for telecast and streaming details. The clubs’ published squad names include Carnesecchi, Ahanor, Hien, Scalvini, Zappacosta, Ederson, de Roon, Bernasconi, De Ketelaere, Zalewski, Scamacca, Simon, Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche, Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta, I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams and Guruzeta.
Atalanta’s home advantage and their more convincing recent result have led to them being installed as slight favourites for the friendly; the published prediction for the match is Atalanta 2-1 Athletic Club.
The pre-season friendly is scheduled for Friday, August 14, 2026, at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, Italy, with kick-off listed at 20:45 CEST on the clubs’ match announcement.