Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao
Spanish La Liga
Date: Sunday, 23rd October 2016,
Kick-Off at 19:45 UK
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu (Madrid).
Real Madrid Team News & Preview
Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao in La Liga this Sunday and Los Blancos will be looking to extend their recent run of form with a home win. The Spanish giants have scored 11 goals in their last two outings and Bilbao will be in for a tough time here. Zidane’s men have well and truly bounced back from their slump earlier this month.
Real Madrid are second in the league table and will want to close the gap with Atletico Madrid at the top. Diego Simeone’s side are ahead on goal difference and therefore Real Madrid will be aiming for another big win here.
Athletic Bilbao have a terrible head to head record against Los Blancos and the home side will be confident heading into this game.
Zinedine Zidane will be without some of his key players for Sunday’s home game against Bilbao. Casemiro, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos all miss out with injuries.
Predicted Real Madrid Starting Lineup (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Kroos, Isco, Kovacic; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Athletic Bilbao Team News & Preview
Despite their underdog status, Bilbao are no pushovers and will make life difficult for the home side.
The Basque side have had a good start to the season and have won five of their last six matches in La Liga. Bilbao have been very sharp in front of the goal and Real Madrid will have to be careful about their inconsistent defending.
With Ramos and Casemiro absent, the away side will fancy their chances of scoring here.
Bilbao will be heading into this game on the back of a 2-0 defeat against Genk in the Europa League and the Spanish outfit will be fired up. They will want to bounce back right away and this is a great chance to pull off an upset and lift the morale around the club.
Aketxe, Balenziaga and Boveda are the only absentees for the away side. Benat should be able to start here.
Predicted Athletic Bilbao Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Marcos, Yeray, Laporte, Lekue; Benat, Iturraspe; Susaeta, Muniain, Williams; Aduriz.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Head to Head Statistics
Both teams have played 48 games against each other in the past
Real Madrid have won 31 games, drawn 6 and lost 11 to Athletic Bilbao
At Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid have won 20 games, drawn 1 and lost 3 games to Athletic Bilbao
Madrid have also outscored them hugely, they have scored 112 goals and conceded 46 goals against Bilbao
Madrid have dominated their last 6 games, with 4 wins, a draw and a defeat to Bilbao.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Prediction
Madrid are the favourites in this game from all angles, they are better comparing their recent form and head to head stats. It will be difficult for Bilbao contain the trio of Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale as they are all fit for this game. Also Benat’s absence will be a sought of big blow to Bilbao.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score and Madrid to win at 2.20 (6/5).
