Athletic Bilbao – Real Madrid: Can Real finally return to winning ways in La Liga?
In Matchweek 19 of La Liga, Athletic Bilbao host Real Madrid on Wednesday, 3 December. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 CET, and I’m offering a betting pick for this clash.
Athletic Bilbao – Real Madrid: Match facts and H2H
- Athletic Bilbao have won one of their last three matches.
- Real Madrid are winless in their last three La Liga fixtures.
- Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last three games overall, but that run includes three draws and a win.
- Real Madrid have scored at least once in each of their last three matches.
- Athletic Bilbao have lost just one of their previous five home games.
- Real Madrid boast the league’s second-best defence with 13 goals conceded.
- They also own the second-best attacking record in the competition with 29 goals scored.
- Real Madrid have scored in both halves in 37% of their league matches this season.
- Athletic Bilbao have failed to score in 37% of their games this season, while Real Madrid have done so in only 5%.
- Real Madrid have won 37% of their matches this season without conceding, while Athletic sit at 16%.
- Real Madrid won the most recent head-to-head meeting 1–0.
Athletic Bilbao – Real Madrid: Match preview
Last season, Athletic Bilbao broke into La Liga’s top four and are now competing in the UEFA Champions League. However, their league campaign has been far less impressive this time around. Over their last 14 league games, they have collected 20 points and sit eighth in the table. The gap to the Champions League spots is currently 11 points, while they are only four points off the broader European places. In their last outing, Athletic defeated Levante 2–0, but before that drew in the Champions League and suffered a heavy 0–4 defeat to Barcelona.
Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2–1 in Matchweek 10, but their results dipped immediately afterwards. They lost 0–1 to Liverpool in the Champions League and followed that with a string of draws. The Royal Club now have three consecutive league draws and have already surrendered top spot in the table. Xabi Alonso’s side sit on 33 points, just one behind the leaders. This match is hugely important for Real Madrid’s head coach: numerous insiders report that Alonso could be dismissed in the event of another poor result, making victory absolutely crucial.
Probable line-ups
- Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Gorosabel, Laporte, Vivian, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Berenguer, Sanchez, N Williams; Gomez
- Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras; Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni; Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius
Prediction
This is a pivotal match for Real Madrid and their manager. The visitors will be desperate to claim all three points and halt their recent slide in La Liga. My recommendation is a bet on a Real Madrid victory.
