Athletic Bilbao (15-4-12) and Real Madrid (20-5-6) will face off today at 3:00 p.m. EDT at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain.
Real Madrid is favored at a -160 price, with the over/under set at 2.5 (-140o / +110u) goals.
Let's get into my Athletic vs. Real Madrid prediction.
Athletic vs. Real Madrid Odds, Prediction
| Athletic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -140 | 2.5 -140o / +110u | +380 |
| Real Madrid Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 +115 | 2.5 -140o / +110u | -160 |
Athletic vs. Real Madrid spread: Athletic +1 (-140), Real Madrid -1 (+115)
Athletic vs. Real Madrid over/under: 2.5 (-140o / +110u)
Athletic vs. Real Madrid moneyline: Athletic +380, Draw +280, Real Madrid -160
Athletic vs. Real Madrid best bet: Under 2.5 goals
Real Madrid Prediction
Real Madrid now faces the aftermath of their Champions League elimination, which was a notable blow to the team's spirit, as they are not only title holders but also the most decorated club in the tournament by far. Their season hinges on beating arch-rival Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on April 26 and closing the gap with them in LaLiga.
However, the Azulgrana obsession cannot kick in yet because they will be playing Athletic Bilbao today. Real Madrid will have to do without their goalscorer Kylian Mbappe, who saw a red card last week for a brutal tackle and luckily received just a one-match ban.
After Barcelona's last-minute victory yesterday, Real Madrid must win to restore the four-point difference in the standings and remain in contention. However, manager Carlo Ancelotti will also need to rotate his lineup, as they will later visit neighbours Getafe on Wednesday ahead of the Copa del Rey final on Saturday in this busy part of the season's schedule.
Real Madrid has lost their last two home matches, against Valencia in LaLiga and Arsenal in the Champions League, so they need to return to winning ways at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. They have been the league's best home team, boasting a 12-2-1 record. Although their performance has dipped lately, they haven't entirely paid the price for it, with four wins in their past five games that kept them in the fight for the title.
Athletic Club Prediction
On Thursday, Athletic beat Glasgow Rangers and reached the Europa League semi-finals, a huge boost in confidence and a crucial achievement. However, today they must refocus and secure points in this league match to maintain their hold on fourth place and the Champions League berth that comes with it.
They are the fifth-best away team, with six wins and six draws in 15 games, and boast a five-game unbeaten streak in LaLiga. Their last defeat occurred in Madrid but at the hands of Atletico on March 1st.
Athletic's record at Bernabeu Stadium is not encouraging: they last won there in 2005 and have drawn only three times in 19 games since then.
They should not fret, though, since their goal today is modest: a tie benefits them greatly. Also, it's not as if they don't know how to deal with Real Madrid: they won 2-1 in their last matchup in December at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club Pick
With probable rotations in both lineups and a midweek matchday to consider, this might not be the let-it-all-out battle we would expect, although the urgency for Real Madrid is much greater. That, along with their recent head-to-head history, suggests they could produce a low result.
Six of their past seven matchups in all competitions had a score under 2.5 goals, a trend repeated in Athletic's past four away games in LaLiga.
Athletic vs. Real Madrid Pick: Under 2.5 goals
