Will Real get back to winning ways?
Athletic Bilbao receive a high visit from the top of the table in the shape of Real Madrid. The pairing already took place three weeks ago, as the matchday 9 clash was made up. The Madrilenians narrowly prevailed 1-0 in the encounter, and the Basques actually had more in them as they were on an equal footing.
The decisive goal was scored by Karim Benzema, who loves to score against the upcoming opponents anyway, as can be seen from his six-goal haul in the last seven encounters. For the match at the San Mames between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, the tip includes an away win (DNB).
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
The Basques have been off the pace in recent weeks: Only one of the past nine games in La Liga was won. Instead, they have suffered three defeats and five draws, such as the aforementioned quite respectable draw against their upcoming opponents. Last Sunday, however, they managed to get the long-awaited three points.
They beat Betis Sevilla, third in the table, 3:2. Despite the three goals in the match, the predominantly harmless offensive of coach Marcelino’s team is a shortcoming. The three goals were the only successes in a review of the past four rounds of matches!
Offensive has been struggling for some time
On the other hand, the lack of goals is not a new pattern: with just 16 goals, the home side have the fourth-weakest record in the Spanish top flight in a league-wide comparison. Alex Berenguer is a symbol for the problems in the offensive.
The striker scored the most goals for the hosts last season, but is still waiting for his first goal this season.
However, the fact that it is a home game can be encouraging. In these matches, the attack strikes three times more often than away from home, and in only two of the nine home matches have the home side failed to score a goal of their own. In view of this, the odds on both sides scoring in Athletic Bilbao’s clash with Real Madrid are also interesting.
The prediction is underpinned by the simultaneous vulnerability of the defence, as they have recorded a clean sheet in only two of their completed home games in parallel.
Basques missing various players
One reason for the mediocre results in recent weeks is the tense personnel situation: In addition to the long-term injured Yuri Berchiche in defence and Peru Nolaskoain in midfield, the hospital has recently filled up further. Asier Villalibre in attack and Dani Vivian in defence are now also unavailable.
All in all, it is clear that Bilbao can only compensate for these numerous absences to a limited extent.
Predicted line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Agirrezabala – Martinez – Alvarez – Balenziaga – Williams – Paredes – Vencedor – Zarraga – Muniain – Williams – Vesga
Last matches played by Athletic Bilbao:
LaLiga
12/19 2021 – Athletic Bilbao 3 – 2 Real Betis
12/11 2021 – Athletic Bilbao 0 – 1 Sevilla
12/06 2021 – Getafe 0 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
12/01 2021 – Real Madrid 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
11/26 2021 – Athletic Bilbao 2 – 2 Granada
Real Madrid – Statistics & current form
For Real, a run of seven straight wins in league action came to an end last weekend. Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team did not manage more than a goalless draw against the Andalusians. Although the runners-up had chances galore, the best attack in La Liga so far failed to score.
The record-breaking champions are still the only team in the league to score more than twice per match on average. Moreover, only Sevilla concede fewer goals than Madrid. However, the visitors are now also plagued by some personnel problems.
Real currently have a Corona problem
The background is several quarantine measures that prevent Luka Modric from playing in midfield or Marco Asensio from playing up front, among others. The latter attacker has been in great form recently, having scored against Inter Milan in the Champions League and against Atletico in the “Derbi madrileno” in the league before his suspension.
Still on board is the 34-time title winner’s best enforcer so far in the person of Karim Benzema. The Frenchman leads the scoring charts with 13 goals and is already looking forward to the upcoming opponents: He scored in the last direct encounter and in three of the past seven meetings. He has scored a brace and a hat-trick in each of those matches!
Will Benzema strike again?
In light of this, the odds on his next goal in the clash between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid are also of interest.
Predicted Real Madrid line-up:
Courtois – Alaba – Mendy – Militao – Carvajal – Modric – Casemiro – Kroos – Benzema – Vincius Junior – Asensio
Last matches played by Real Madrid:
LaLiga
12/19 2021 – Real Madrid 0 – 0 Cadiz
12/12 2021 – Real Madrid 2 – 0 Atletico Madrid
Champions League Grp. D
12/07 2021 – Real Madrid 2 – 0 Inter Milan
LaLiga
12/04 2021 – San Sebastian 0 – 2 Real Madrid
12/01 2021 – Real Madrid 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao – Real Madrid Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The last two head-to-head duels have both ended with the league leaders winning 1-0. The away record of the capital is also very positive from their point of view in this pairing: They have not conceded a defeat at the Lions’ home ground in six matches. Instead, four victories and two draws have been recorded at the San Mames.
The home side also have just one win over the three-time World Cup winners (1-3-7) in the last ten years. For the upcoming edition of Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid, the betting odds already assign the role of favourites to the visitors again.
Athletic Bilbao – Real Madrid Tip
The “Leones” have recently won for the first time after eight winless league games and even more so against third-placed Betis Sevilla, but the personnel situation is tense for the home side.
In addition to injured players, there are now several Corona cases in the squad, including goalkeeper Unai Simon, who has to miss the tenth game of last season. Due to quarantine measures, the visitors will also arrive decimated, but the league leaders can better compensate for these absences with their squad, which is also very good across the board.
For the clash between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, the forecast includes an away win (DNB). After the disappointing draw against Cadiz last Sunday evening, Ancelotti’s team will be looking to make a statement in the upcoming match and will be very motivated.
Unibet offers betting odds of 1.58 on the match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid in the Basque Country.
