Real Madrid – Ath Bilbao Prediction & Picks (18.04.2018)

Real Madrid and Athletic Club meet at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, in a match for the 33rd round of the First Division. In the last direct confrontation for this edition of the league, on 02-12-2017, the two teams tied (0-0). In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 4 victories in the last 4 matches. In fact, the last time these two teams played a match in this stadium was on 23-10-2016, in a match for the First Division that ended with the victory of Real Madrid by (2-1). The goals of the match were scored by K. Benzema (7 ‘) and Álvaro Morata (83’), for Real Madrid, and Sabin (27 ‘), for Athletic Club. In this match the home factor may be decisive, since Real Madrid presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.

Real Madrid:

The home team is currently in the 3 rd position, with 67 points won, after 20 wins, 7 draws and 5 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in a home match against Atlético Madrid, by (1-1). In the last match, they won in an away match against Málaga, by (1-2). This is a team that, oddly enough, has had better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 11 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in away matches; against 9 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses at their stadium. For the championship, Real Madrid won 22 points out of 30 possible, after 7 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the last 10 matches they played in their stadium. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 8 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 11 of the last 16 matches for this competition have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 32 matches in this competition, he only managed 2 comebacks in the 8 matches in which he suffered the first goal.

Real Madrid is the team that most times conquered the Spanish Championship, with thirty-three titles, being the most recent in the last season (2016/17). This season the team is far from fighting for the title, but remains among the first classified and within the qualifying zone for the Champions League. In addition to having a staff full of stars, Real Madrid has as its main offensive characteristics the fast attacks by the flanks, crosses and fast passes to reach the area of ​​the rivals. In the last six home games for La Liga, in all they scored more than 1.5 goals and in five they scored more than 2.5 goals. We believe that in this game Real Madrid has all the conditions to get back a victory with a comfortable score.

Athletic Bilbao:

The away team is currently in the 14 th position of the league, with 39 points won, after 9 wins, 12 draws and 11 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in an away match against Villarreal, by (1-3). In the last match, they lost in a home match against Deportivo La Coruña, by (2-3). This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 20 goals scored and 23 conceded; against 4 wins, 7 draws and 4 losses at their stadium, with 16 goals scored and 14 conceded. In the last 10 away league matches Athletic Bilbao has 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, so they have won 12 points out of 30 possible. The team allowed goals to the opponent in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition, so it was not very strong defensively. In 32 matches in this tournament, he suffered the first goal 15 times and only managed 1 comeback.

Athletic Bilbao is a club that has already won eight times the Spanish championship and this season is at the bottom of the table, practically having no chance of reaching a place to access the Europa League. The team also has no chances of descent. In this game Athletic will have a very difficult mission, visiting Real Madrid, which despite not having any chance of being a champion, will at least be the runner-up, besides Cristiano Ronaldo will have to try to score, to be the best gunner of the Spanish championship. We believe that this game will have several goals, as it almost always happens in the direct confrontations between these teams at Real Madrid’s home.