Athletic Club confirm Marseille and Atalanta friendlies in pre-season schedule
Athletic Club announce pre-season friendlies at Marseille (Aug 9) and Atalanta’s Trofeo Bortolotti in Bergamo (Aug 14) as Edin Terzic prepares the squad.
Athletic Club have added two high-profile fixtures to their pre-season programme as manager Edin Terzic continues to assemble preparations for his first full campaign in charge. The Basque side will travel to the Stade Vélodrome to face Olympique de Marseille on August 9 before heading to Bergamo to contest the Trofeo Bortolotti against Atalanta on August 14. Both matches provide stern tests against European-calibre opposition and are scheduled as part of a broader build-up to the domestic season.
Marseille meeting set for the Vélodrome on August 9
Athletic will take on Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on Friday, August 9, with kickoff scheduled for 17:30 local time. Marseille, coached by Bruno Génésio, enter the friendly fresh from qualification for the UEFA Europa League and will present a competitive side keen to fine-tune ahead of European and domestic commitments. The fixture offers Athletic an opportunity to evaluate their match-readiness against a team accustomed to high-intensity, continental fixtures.
The Vélodrome is known for its demanding atmosphere and large capacity, providing an authentic test for Athletic’s travelling squad and their tactical cohesion. For Terzic’s team, the match will reveal how well new systems are bedding in and which players can cope with pressure away from Bilbao. Sporting directors and coaching staff will also use the game to assess fitness levels and squad rotation options ahead of the season’s start.
Trofeo Bortolotti clash in Bergamo on August 14
On Wednesday, August 14, Athletic will contest the Trofeo Bortolotti at Gewiss Stadium against Atalanta with a 20:45 kickoff scheduled. The long-running Bortolotti Trophy, organized in memory of Achille and Cesare Bortolotti, traditionally attracts strong opposition and serves as Atalanta’s showcase friendly before Serie A begins. Athletic’s trip to Bergamo will revive memories of last season’s Champions League visit, where the Basque side secured a notable 3-2 win.
Facing Atalanta under Maurizio Sarri will test Athletic’s defensive organisation and transitional play, as the Italian side are renowned for their high-tempo attacking patterns and structured pressing. The match will also provide a chance for squad players to stake a claim for starting roles while allowing coaching staff to evaluate tactical alternatives against a top-level opponent. Pride and the silverware on offer add an extra edge to what would otherwise be a routine summer friendly.
Context within the broader pre-season programme
These two fixtures complement a schedule already populated with domestic and international opposition designed to escalate difficulty progressively. Athletic’s pre-season campaign has been curated to balance fitness work, tactical drills and competitive matches that simulate the varying demands of La Liga and potential European competitions. The choice of Marseille and Atalanta reflects a deliberate strategy to expose the squad to contrasting styles—French physicality and Italian tactical discipline—within a short timeframe.
For the coaching team, the order and timing of these matches matter as much as the opponents themselves. The Marseille game arrives at a point where sharpness and cohesion need testing without risking excessive fatigue, while the Bergamo trip follows close behind, serving as a final rehearsal under competitive conditions. Athletic’s technical staff will monitor training loads closely and use both fixtures to finalise the squad hierarchy ahead of the season opener.
Historical precedents and previous encounters
Athletic and Marseille have met in the past, with ties dating back to European ties in the mid-2010s. The two clubs faced one another in the 2015/16 and 2017/18 cycles, with the aggregate outcomes split between the sides. That history adds a narrative strand to the upcoming meeting, giving both groups a sense of familiarity and competitive history to draw on. Players and supporters alike often view these encounters through the lens of prior achievements and memorable moments.
Athletic’s recent competitive visit to Bergamo is also part of the tapestry connecting the clubs, with last season’s Champions League fixture providing a vivid example of how visiting sides can succeed at Gewiss Stadium. The memory of a 3-2 Athletic victory, powered by goals from Navarro, Guruzeta and Nico Serrano, remains fresh for many supporters and will contribute to the match’s emotional intensity. Such historical touchpoints make these pre-season encounters more than simple run-outs; they are moments where narratives and preparation intersect.
Tactical and squad implications for Edin Terzic
Edin Terzic will use both matches to test formations, experiment with player pairings and refine defensive transitions ahead of competitive play. The Marseille friendly offers a platform to evaluate responses to wide threats and physical duels, while the Atalanta game will gauge stamina under sustained high-press scenarios. Terzic’s coaching staff are likely to rotate heavily across the two fixtures to measure depth and identify players ready for regular minutes.
These games will also be decisive for fringe players seeking to break into the match-day squads for the season proper. Younger prospects and recent signings may be given extended opportunities to show their readiness under pressure, and set-piece efficacy, pressing intensity, and central defensive communication will be scrutinised. The results themselves matter less than the insights gained regarding match fitness, tactical compliance, and the ability to execute Terzic’s vision at pace.
Commercial, fan and logistical considerations
Beyond the tactical value, these friendlies carry commercial and fan-engagement benefits for Athletic Club. Matches at high-profile venues like the Vélodrome and Gewiss Stadium expose the Athletic brand to international audiences and generate welcome revenue through ticketing, hospitality, and ancillary services. For supporters, the fixtures present opportunities to travel and to witness the team against top-level opposition in marquee settings.
Logistics will play a role in the club’s planning, with travel schedules, recovery protocols and media commitments planned to minimise disruption to the training cycle. Supporter access and ticket distribution are likely to be managed in coordination with the host clubs, and Athletic will communicate travel information and official channels for fans wishing to attend. The club’s commercial team will also use the matches to strengthen partnerships and promote season-ticket packages for the upcoming campaign.
Athletic arrive in Europe’s summer window with a programme designed to blend competitive tests and measured preparation, and these additions to the schedule underline a clear ambition to be ready from the outset.
The two matches against Marseille and Atalanta form part of a carefully structured pre-season that aims to align fitness, tactics and squad selection ahead of the new campaign.
