Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao
1st December 2000hrs
Football – Spain – La Liga
Pick Real Madrid to win to nil
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds:6/5 odds taken 22:41 GMT November 28th, 2021
A late win at home against Sevilla on the weekend moved La Liga leaders Real Madrid on to a four-match winning streak.
They have opened up a nice gap for themselves at the top of the table and will be looking for more as they head into midweek action.
They take on an Athletic Bilbao side who have failed to bank a win in any of their last five league outings.
Table of Contents
Real Madrid Preview – Five in a row for Madrid?
Real Madrid are setting the pace now in the La Liga title race having won their last four.
It has been a W10 D3 L1 record from them overall this season and they are undefeated at home.
Real Madrid are W4 D2 on home turf this season in the league.
It’s been back to back 2-1 victories at the Bernabeu by Los Merengues in their last two league games.
So they have had to work for things. Four of their last five league wins have been by that very scoreline.
Madrid to get stronger?
On the weekend they needed a late intervention by Junior Vinicius to claim a 2-1 win over 4th-placed Sevilla.
In the match outright for football betting on Wednesday, the win for Real Madrid is at 2/5 odds-on* (odds recorded 22:41 GMT November 28th 2021).
They will be facing a Bilbao side who are sat in the top eight but are currently out of winning touch.
Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in each of their last four league games now.
They are currently averaging 2.5 goals per home league fixture in this campaign.
Real Madrid have been far from solid at the back in this campaign and only have two home clean sheets.
They have conceded under a goal per game on average at the Bernabeu.
But it’s been just two clean sheets for Madrid (Home and Away) in their last eleven league fixtures.
We are going to flip that however and look for the Real Madrid to win to nil pick at 6/4* (odds recorded 22:41 GMT November 28th 2021).
That’s because Wednesday’s opponents Bilbao have been goal-shy on their top-flight travels.
Real Madrid are the top-scoring team in the division but strangely have only opened the scoring in two home games.
Athletic Bilbao Preview – Bilbao out of winning touch
There has not been a league victory recorded for Athletic Bilbao in their last five (D4 L1).
Their away form doesn’t make for great reading in terms of them leaving the Bernabeu with three points.
Athletic Bilbao are unbeaten away from home, but only with a W1 D6 record posted.
In total, they have scored only 4 goals in 7 away games.
So that really looks like the area in which their challenge may fall down.
Given that they have done brilliantly to concede just three goals on their travels, it hints that they are going to be in heavy defensive mode in midweek.
Under 2.5 goals does make a reasonable option here for football betting at 6/5* (odds recorded 22:41 GMT November 28th 2021).
The visitors aren’t likely to threaten too much and they go into the game as heavy underdogs in the match outright.
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Athletic Bilbao lost 3-1 at the Bernabeu in last season’s corresponding fixture.
They haven’t beaten Real Madrid, home or away in any of their last dozen league fixtures against them.
While they did beat them in the Super Cup in January, the underdog odds of 13/2 on Athletic Bilbao look fair* (odds recorded 22:41 GMT November 28th 2021).
Bilbao have the best defensive record overall this season in the top flight.
They may well be doing to hang in there until the halftime break.
67% of their away goals conceded have come in the second half, while they have scored 75% of their away goals after the break.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Advice
Real Madrid are likely to take this one, but it’s reasonable to assume that they are once again going to be made to work hard for three points.
Therefore a Real Madrid 1 Goal Winning margin is our first pick for football betting at 13/5* (odds recorded 22:41 GMT November 28th 2021).
They are facing a really tough defence in midweek, and Madrid’s last two home wins have only been by a single goal margin.
Key Facts – Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Betting Tip
- Real Madrid are undefeated at home this season W4 D2
- Real Madrid have lost 1 of their last 12 against Bilbao in the league
- Athletic Bilbao boast the league’s best defensive record
It is hard to picture a scenario where Athletic Bilbao come out and really put in an adventurous performance.
So the other option to consider for this game would be the Real Madrid to win to nil at 6/4* (odds recorded 22:41 GMT November 28th 2021).
Real Madrid should be able to make it five straight league wins by breaking Bilbao’s resilience.
The best betting odds for Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid to win: 2/5 at Bet365
Draw: 18/5 at Bet365
Athletic Bilbao to win: 13/2 at Bet365
