Most of the teams in La Liga already played 15 games, but Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao haven’t. This game was supposed to be played weeks ago, but Madrid’s international commitments didn’t allow it.
Now, it’s an opportunity for Los Blancos to increase their advantage at the top up to seven points. On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao will be looking to return to the winning column after five games.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and La Liga odds for Real Madrid vs Athletic.
Real Madrid vs Athletic 2021 La Liga Matchday 9
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao are one of the most balanced teams in La Liga. They’ve only lost two games (4-8-2), scored 13 goals and allowed 10. No other team has allowed fewer goals, not even those in the top four.
Most recently, they drew 2-2 to Granada. They came from behind and managed to save a point despite finishing the game with 10 players. Inigo Martinez got a red card during the last minutes of the game.
Offensively, they scored in three of their last five games. Raul Garcia leads the team with three goals. Defensively, goalkeeper Unai Simon is having a great season. He’s now considered Spain’s starter over Manchester United’s David de Gea.
Bilbao remains unbeaten on the road. They own a 1-6-0 record, 3-2-2 against the spread and 0-7 over/under. They scored and finished with a clean sheet in four of those games.
They already faced the other two Spanish powerhouses. They drew 1-1 to Barcelona and 0-0 to Atletico Madrid. They weren’t the betting online favorites in either matc.
Besides Martinez, Peru Nolaskoain and Asier Villalibre are out due to injury.
Athletic Bilbao’s predicted lineup: Unai Simon; Inigo Lekue, Yeray Alvarez, Mikel Balenziaga, Alex Petxa; Nico Williams, Unai Vencedor, Dani Garcia, Iker Muniain; Raul Garcia, Oihan Sancet.
Real Madrid
Right now, you won’t find a more motivated team than Real Madrid. Los Blancos already qualified for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 and are sitting in La Liga’s first place. They have 33 points thanks to a 10-3-1 record, 34 goals for and 15 against. No other team has scored more goals.
Most recently, they came from behind to beat Sevilla 2-1, exactly like we predicted. Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior were the scorers. Benzema leads the league’s scoring chart with 11 goals and he’s followed by Vinicius with nine.
Real Madrid won its last six games in all competitions, scoring two or more goals in each match. During that span, they also finished with a clean sheet once. You know what they say, the best defense is a good offense.
Los Blancos have been an even more reliable soccer pick when playing at home. They own a 4-2-0 record, 2-3-1 against the spread and 4-2 over/under. They scored in four of those games and finished with a clean sheet twice.
Dani Ceballos, Gareth Bale and Rodrygo remain out due to injury. They’ve learned how to win without them, but the more the merrier. Having a deep, healthy roster can make a huge difference in such a demanding competition.
Real Madrid’s predicted lineup: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Head to Head
- Previous Matches: 201
- Athletic Bilbao Victories: 62 (267 goals)
- Real Madrid Victories: 103 (385 goals)
- Draws: 36
Last season, Real Madrid won both times they met — 3-1 at home and 1-0 on the road. Los Blancos own a 6-4-0 record in their last 10 meetings with Athletic Bilbao. They scored 14 goals, allowed five, and finished with a clean sheet five times during that span.
Regarding the total, it went under in six of those games. Athletic beat Real Madrid for the last time in the 2014-15 season.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Game Information
- Date: Wednesday
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
- Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Live Stream: fuboTV
Real Madrid vs Athletic Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Athletic Bilbao | +1 +115 | +600 | 2½ +115u | TBD |
| Real Madrid | -1 -135 | -220 | 2½ -135o | TBD |
| Draw | +370 |
Prediction
Real Madrid will go for the kill, but Athletic Bilbao won’t be easy prey. Los Blancos have been winning, but not without suffering. Less than 2.5 were scored in 75 percent of their last eight meetings. Both will score in a fast-paced match, but that trend will continue. Madrid players are tired and the visitors would be more than happy with a draw.
If you want to increase your winning chances, don’t forget to check the props our sportsbook is offering. Our score prediction is offering a +800 price, while two exact total goals are +300. You should also include 9-11 corners at +160.
Score Prediction: Real Madrid 1, Athletic Bilbao 1
