With the 2024-2025 season already taking place for Atletico Madrid, we take a quick check of the most important moments of the fixture list to come over the rest of the season. Diego Simeone’s side are one of the strongest sides in La Liga after a busy transfer window, and might even consider themselves in with an outside chance of European success. We take a look at the key matches to come.
For Atletico Madrid, attention immediately turns to when they will come up against their great city rivals, Real Madrid. While Real usually come out on top, there have been more than enough moments of dominance for the ‘other’ Madrid side for them to stay ambitious.
There are other top teams who have history with Atletico, with Barcelona proving to be stern competition at times, and nascent challengers Girona could also prove to be difficult opponents once more.
Key Highlights and Marquee Matches
Atletico Madrid’s two fixtures against Real Madrid will – in almost every case – be the most important matches of the season for the club’s fans. They face them at home on September 29 and away a few months later on February 9.
However, if Diego Simeone is to mount a consistent and sustained title challenge after a few years off the boil, he will need to be victorious against the league’s other big sides. Newly equipped Girona may need their confidence dented, with the matches between the two sides on August 25 in Madrid and May 25 in Catalonia.
Another Catalan danger is Barcelona, and the two teams meet on December 22 away from home, and March 16 at the Civitas Metropolitano.
Of course, Atletico are also in Europe’s premier club competition, the Champions League, and their toughest fixture appears to be Paris Saint-Germain in France, on November 26.
La Liga Campaign
Now seemingly a permanent fixture at the Civitas Metrapolitano, Diego Simeone has adjusted his side with a busy transfer window, bringing in Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez after some big spending.
Antoine Griezmann has remained for what is probably his final season in Spain before he decamps to MLS football, and they will need all his experience to mount a title challenge.
Two key fixtures are against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, current European champions and now buttressed by the arrival of Kylian Mbappe. They play at home on September 29 and later away on February 9.
Early league leaders Barcelona have added Dani Olmo to their attacking line-up, and with Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal in tow, they offer a real threat. The two teams meet on December 22 in Barcelona, and March 16 in Madrid.
And, of course, another well put together Catalan side, Girona, offer tough tests for any side this season. Atletico face them on August 25 in Madrid and May 25 in Girona.
For Atletico Madrid, they will need to hope star players like Alvarez, Gallagher and Griezmann stay fit, as they can’t boast the deep squad that Real Madrid possess. They also need to be at the top of their game if they are to match some of the superstar-stuffed sides they will be meeting.
Home Matches at Civitas Metropolitano
The cauldron of intimidation that the Atletico Madrid fans can conjure up at home is one of the club’s biggest strengths. When even the most experienced sides come to meet Diego Simeone’s side on their home turf, they can find themselves immediately on the back foot and unsettled.
- Aug 19: Villarreal v Atletico Madrid
- Aug 31: Athletic Club v Atletico Madrid
- Sep 22: Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid
- Sep 26: Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid
- Oct 6: Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid
- Oct 27: Real Betis v Atletico Madrid
- Nov 10: Real Mallorca v Atletico Madrid
- Dec 1: Real Valladolid v Atletico Madrid
- Dec 22: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid
- Jan 19: Leganes v Atletico Madrid
- Feb 9: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
- Feb 23: Valencia v Atletico Madrid
- Mar 9: Getafe v Atletico Madrid
- Mar 30: Espanyol v Atletico Madrid
- Apr 6: Sevilla v Atletico Madrid
- Apr 20: Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid
- May 4: Alaves v Atletico Madrid
- May 14: Osasuna v Atletico Madrid
- May 25: Girona v Atletico Madrid
Away Fixtures
When Atletico are at their best, they are well suited to the challenge of playing away from home. With their trademark sturdy defence, they can absorb endless pressure, and with Antoine Griezmann’s guile and the attacking threat of Julian Alvarez and others, coupled with Conor Gallagher’s hard running, they can spring successful counterattacks against top sides. Their attacking nous also unlocks the massed defence of La Liga’s smaller sides.
They will travel to Real Madrid on February 9, Barcelona on December 22, and face Girona on August 25.
- Aug 25: Atletico Madrid v Girona
- Aug 28: Atletico Madrid v Espanyol
- Sep 15: Atletico Madrid v Valencia
- Sep 29: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
- Oct 20: Atletico Madrid v Leganes
- Nov 3: Atletico Madrid v Las Palmas
- Nov 24: Atletico Madrid v Alaves
- Dec 8: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla
- Dec 15: Atletico Madrid v Getafe
- Jan 11: Atletico Madrid v Osasuna
- Jan 21: Atletico Madrid v Villarreal
- Feb 2: Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca
- Feb 16: Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo
- Mar 2: Atletico Madrid v Athletic Club
- Mar 16: Atletico Madrid v Barcelona
- Apr 13: Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid
- April 23: Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano
- May 11: Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad
- May 19: Atletico Madrid v Real Betis
Atlético de Madrid UEFA Champions League Schedule
Atletico Madrid began well, with a victory over RB Leipzig in dramatic circumstances. They also have some tougher matches to come with a trip to French champions Paris Saint-Germain in November. They also have to take on the excellent Bayer Leverkusen on January 21 next year.
While Simeone will know that Champions League glory is unlikely, they have enough favourable fixtures against teams such as Sparta PRague and Slovan Bratislava to qualify for the knockout stages.
Group Stage Matches
Atletico Madrid need to maximise their chances against smaller sides such as Sparta, SK, and maybe even Red Bull Salzburg, Benfica and Lille. However, the latter three are not likely to roll over, and finding their way through to qualify for the later rounds will depend on their ability to inflict some defeats on bigger names too.
For Atletico and Simeone, taking an aggressive approach may be necessary, focusing on the talents of Griezmann, Alvarez and other forwards.
- Sep 19: Atletico Madrid v RB Leipzig
- Oct 2: Benfica v Atletico Madrid
- Oct 23: Atletico Madrid v Lille
- Nov 6: Paris Saint-Germain v Atletico Madrid
- Nov 26: Sparta Prague v Atletico Madrid
- Dec 11: Atletico Madrid v SK Slovan Bratislava
- Jan 21: Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen
- Jan 29: Red Bull Salzburg v Atletico Madrid
