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Opposition Profile: Athletic Club: Williams Brothers & Basque Pride
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Champions League nights are back at St James' Park — and after Benfica, it’s Athletic Club. They may not be packed with global superstars, but make no mistake: this is one of the most disciplined, passionate, and identity-driven clubs in European football.
In this episode, Michael Grahamslaw breaks down everything you need to know ahead of Newcastle’s massive Group Stage clash with the Basque giants — from Athletic’s unique Basque-only policy and rich history, to their tactical setup under Ernesto Valverde, the threat of the Williams brothers, and how the Magpies can take all three points under the floodlights.
We cover:
- Athletic Club's identity and historic DNA 🇪🇸
- Tactical deep dive: Pressing, shape, and wing play ⚔️
- Key battles: Trippier vs Nico, Tonali vs Sancet, and Woltemade’s aerial edge 🧠
- How St James’ Park could be the difference maker 🔥
🎧 Plus, don’t miss our predictions, tactical matchups, and what makes this clash one of the most intriguing ties of the group stage.
Hit subscribe, drop your score prediction in the comments, and join the Daily Newcastle Podcast on Spotify for exclusive NUFC content every day of the week!
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Transcript
Introduction to Newcastle vs Athletic Club
00:00:00
Speaker
Champions League Knights are returning to St James' Park and this time Newcastle face Adletic Club on Matchday 4. By this point we'll have a rough idea of what to expect from both sides and the chances of qualifying for the next round.
00:00:15
Speaker
Now, Atletic might not have the same superstar power of a Barcelona, a Real Madrid or an Atletico Madrid, but don't let that fool you. On their day, they are one of the most difficult, disciplined and proud teams in Europe.
Athletic Club's Unique Play Style
00:00:29
Speaker
Now, today we're breaking down who Atletic Club are, how they play, their biggest threats and and what Newcastle need to do to keep all three points on Tyneside. Newcastle will face Atletic Club on the 5th of November, but for now, let's look at the context and the history of this great club.
00:00:50
Speaker
I'd let the club be one of the most historic clubs in Spain.
00:01:00
Speaker
and still ran running on their unique Basque-only player policy. What a truly fascinating club. They can't just sign anybody. They rely on Basque talent, their academy, and incredibly smart scouting.
00:01:14
Speaker
Despite that restriction, they consistently compete in La Liga. They regularly qualify for Europe and they've upset some of the biggest sides in the world in knockout ties.
00:01:27
Speaker
They're a team built on loyalty, work rate and most importantly, identity. And coming to St. James' Park, this is a great chance to show they belong on the biggest stage.
Athletic Club's Champions League Journey
00:01:39
Speaker
In regards to the Champions League though, this is the first time the Basque team have qualified for the competition since 2014-15 and last season they're mainly known for losing 7-1 on aggregate to euroba in the Europa League semi-final to Manchester United.
00:01:55
Speaker
Not their best result, but certainly not a reflection of the quality in that team. Under Ernesto Valverde, Atletic club are tactically disciplined. They're usually set up in a 4-2-3-1 slash 4-3-3, but it's a lot more compact than what you normally find with the modern team.
00:02:14
Speaker
They're more direct, they hold their shape and they overload the centre of the pitch. They like to play long balls, get the ball out wide and more importantly when they can, get in behind those wing backs.
00:02:27
Speaker
They'll take a lot of shots and they will sit back and hold their shape as long as they can to frustrate the opposition. The issue they had last year when they played Man United in those games that I mentioned is they lost the lee well they lost being level early on.
00:02:43
Speaker
Man United went to the lead early on. They had to change the way they played, and they just got picked apart for it. um But their defensive shape is their biggest strength. When they're aligned, their defence is fierce.
00:02:57
Speaker
They'll overload that midfield, then push the ball out to the Williams brothers, get them one-on-one, and then aim to physically overwhelm the opposition in both boxes.
Key Players and Strategies
00:03:07
Speaker
The only issue that they do have is because of that Bascone player policy, depth can be a real issue.
00:03:15
Speaker
And if you nullify that wing threat from the two Williamses, they can struggle to create chances. Now the kind of side that will thrive on mistakes, Newcastle don't make too many chances.
00:03:27
Speaker
And when they are, they're usually forced into it from a sustained period of pressure. Not something that we're expecting from Athletic Club. But what we are expecting is a lot of pace on the wings.
00:03:39
Speaker
Coming from first Inaki Williams and Nico Williams. While Inaki is the the spearhead of the attack at times, his pace, power and relentless running make him a nightmare for any defender.
00:03:52
Speaker
But he's not just about goals. He stretches defences, opens up space for others and is a true legend of the game for Atletic Club. It comes in no surprise that he's deemed as the main man, and he has been for about 10 years.
00:04:06
Speaker
And then on the other side, you have Nico Williams, the younger brother, and arguably the star of the team now. He's lightning quick, a great dribbler, and can change the game in an instant.
00:04:17
Speaker
While Newcastle played in the Cellar Cup against Atletico Madrid not that long ago, and didn't really see the best these two had to offer, it's pretty certain that you'll see it. unless they're injured in Champions League on round four.
00:04:30
Speaker
Then there's two other players that could dictate the game if we can' if we do manage to neutralise their wing threat, and that is Ojan Sanse, the so ah creative hub of the team. He's tall, he's elegant, and he's able to find passes in between the lines.
00:04:47
Speaker
There isn't a lot the Spanish midfielder can't do, but defending isn't isn't a strong point, to but to say the least. So it'll come down to whoever has more of the possession in that midfield and whoever does the better, well, whoever does better, should I say, with that attack
Match Predictions and Key Matchups
00:05:05
Speaker
in play. And to be honest, looking at it, Atletic Club will probably create the better chances, but Newcastle will probably create chances a lot more consistently.
00:05:15
Speaker
If they're clinical, Newcastle will win the game. But one player that could potentially stop that from happening is Spain's number one goalkeeper, Unai Simon.
00:05:28
Speaker
Commanding in his box. Excellent shot stopper and capable of keeping athletic in games they should probably lose. Some argue that Simon is one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world and I don't actually have an argument against it This isn't a team of global galacticos.
00:05:46
Speaker
It's a team of warriors that fight, not just for Atletic Club, but for the entire Basque region. And while the Williams Bros in particular will test Newcastle's wool full-backs all night long, if Newcastle do get three points, they'll have been in war with one of Spain's toughest regions for 90 minutes, and they're going to have to endure it to come away with three points.
00:06:09
Speaker
It'll be a high-intensity clash, And Newcastle will look to dominate the ball at St. James' Park using Bruno Gamares and Sandra Tonali to dictate play. Atletico will press in bursts, especially when Newcastle try to play out from the back.
00:06:23
Speaker
And then they'll look to spring the two Williams brothers into space. The one player who will probably be massive for Newcastle if he is fit is Joe Linton, who is absolutely excellent in transition for Newcastle and stopping transition for the opposition.
00:06:40
Speaker
If Nuko Williams can isolate Trippier, Livermento or Hall, whoever plays against him, one-on-one, it'll be incredibly dangerous. But there is also the added effect of if Newcastle can pin him back with a Langer or Gordon,
00:06:56
Speaker
and of and get those overlapping runs from the full-back and change the balance of the game, then realistically, Atletico are going to have some problems dealing with that Newcastle front line.
00:07:07
Speaker
And then, arguably the biggest duel of the game, and I'm not just saying that because the size of the Newcastle striker, Nick Woltzman, him versus Danny Vivian is going to be, in my opinion, ah very difficult match-up for the Spanish centre-back.
00:07:26
Speaker
While Vivian is arguably Bilbao's best defender, both him and Naito Paredes are not very small, but they're quite small for defenders, ah higher the tallest being six one um And with that height, power and precision of the Newcastle giant, it's going to be a massive test for those two athletic
Cultural Exchange and Atmosphere
00:07:47
Speaker
defenders.
00:07:47
Speaker
The beauty of the clash, however, is going to come from the clash of atmospheres. Atletic are used to ah massive stadiums. They are in one of the best in football, but they challenge at some of the best in football every single season, whether it's the Bernabeu, the Nou Camp.
00:08:09
Speaker
They end up playing in Europe against some of the biggest names in football. Realistically, they're used to intimidating stadiums and they're going to be one of the clubs that Newcastle United's atmosphere probably can't scare.
00:08:22
Speaker
but a night at St James' Park is one of the most special nights for any club. And for Newcastle, this is a chance to show that Tyneside can rattle opponents as much as Bilbao can.
00:08:35
Speaker
The noise, the intensity, the sheer energy of the crowd, it can lift the players and overwhelm visiting sides. Athletic are known for their resiliency, but they won't face many away days like this.
00:08:49
Speaker
There is a massive amount of respect between the two clubs as well. I generally think this is going to be one of the nicest but best overall atmospheres in the competition. So do you think Newcastle can take all three points?
00:09:01
Speaker
Let's be honest, Bilbao aren't going to roll over. They'll fight, they'll press and they'll hit Newcastle on the break more times than I can think. But at home, Newcastle have that quality in midfield and attack.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:09:13
Speaker
You'd back Eddie Howe's men to create enough chances. The key will be concentration. Avoid giving the we ball away cheaply. Stop the counter-attacks and keep your full-backs disciplined.
00:09:25
Speaker
If Newcastle can do that, this could be a statement home win that could give them great momentum going into some of the tougher away games in match day five and onwards.
00:09:36
Speaker
But what do you think? Will the home form shine through? Will Atletic spoil the party? Drop your score predictions in the comments below. Hit the like button. And if you're buzzing, for another big European night like I am.
00:09:49
Speaker
Don't forget to subscribe for more previews. This is the Champions League. It doesn't get much better than this. And this is the Daily Newcastle Podcast. Check us out on Spotify, where you can find myself, Michael Graham, so alongside Ian McKay, Nicola Pringle-Adams, Joe Aners, and Kevin Ester for Newcastle United content every single day.