Real Madrid vs Athletic Club Betting Odds, Preview
Bilbao Enter the Top Four
Real on 23 Game La Liga Unbeaten Streak
Athletic Club haven’t played Champions League football for almost 10 years. That could change soon, as Bilbao recently entered La Liga’s top four. In their last match before the Copa del Rey Final next weekend, Athletic Club take on Real Madrid on Sunday.
Real, the La Liga leaders, are on a 23 game unbeaten run in the league and hold a healthy eight point lead over Barcelona. For the La Liga game of the week, we’ll take a look at the Real Madrid vs Athletic Club betting odds.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Club
Day/Time:
Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Real Madrid vs Athletic Club Head-to-Head
Before considering Real Madrid vs Athletic Club betting, punters should be aware that Real are unbeaten in their last 17 La Liga fixtures vs Bilbao. On the first Matchday of the La Liga season, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored in Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Athletic Club. Last season, Bilbao did manage to pick up a draw at the Bernabeu, though.
Three of Athletic Club’s last six La Liga road matches at Real Madrid have finished in draws but they haven’t won a league match at the Bernabeu since 2005. Bilbao’s most recent win in this fixture was in the 2022 Copa del Rey, where they took down Real 1-0 in the Quarter-Final.
Real’s Vinicius Junior Suspended
Real Madrid retained their eight point lead over Barcelona by defeating Osasuna 4-2 before the international break. Vinicius Junior had an excellent match, with two goals, while Fede Valverde provided a hat trick of assists.
Los Blancos haven’t lost a 90 minute match since September in any competition and are massive favorites to win the La Liga title. The outright La Liga odds price Real at -5000 to win a second title in three seasons.
They’ve been excellent this season even without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who tore his ACL in August. The Belgian just suffered a meniscus injury which will keep him out for the rest of the season and Andriy Lunin will continue to start in his absence.
Eder Miltao also tore his ACL last August but is nearing a return, while David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga are out. Vini is also suspended for Sunday’s match due to yellow card accumulation.
Jude Bellingham, first on the list of the La Liga Santander top scorers, will return from a suspension for this match. He, Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz could end up being the focal points of the Madrid attack this weekend. Rodrygo has had another fine season, with eight league goals and five assists.
Meanwhile, Diaz, who just committed his international future to Morocco, has grown in confidence in his first season back at Real since 2019-20. No matter who’s playing, or missing, Real seem to find a way to get results.
Athletic Club Tough to Beat
Athletic Club have kept four straight shutouts. Goalkeeper Unai Simon was superb in their last match, a 2-0 win over Alaves. Simon kept out a point blank range shot and saved a penalty kick in the 31st minute.
Just 40 seconds after the PK save, Athletic Club scored at the other end as Nico Williams found Gorka Guruzeta. Guruzeta scored his second of the match just five minutes later and he’s been one of the best strikers in La Liga this season.
He currently ranks sixth in the league, with 13 goals. Bilbao, who have lost just one of their last eight La Liga games, are in fourth place in the Spanish La Liga standings at the moment. Champions League qualification would be a massive success for Ernesto Valverde, who used to manage Real’s rivals Barcelona, and Bilbao.
Given their all-Basque policy, it’s quite impressive Athletic Club are able to compete with the biggest teams in the league.
Only Villarreal’s Alex Baena has provided more assists this season than Spanish international winger Nico Williams. Williams’ brother Iñaki, who plays internationally for Ghana, has scored nine league goals for Athletic Club this season. At the moment, Bilbao are without defender Yuri Berchiche and midfielder Ander Herrera.
Match Analysis & Odds
This will be a good test for Real Madrid, who haven’t lost at home since April 2023. Even a point would be immense for Athletic Club, who are looking forward to next weekend’s Copa del Rey Final vs Mallorca. Currently, the Real Madrid vs Athletic Club betting odds price hosts Real as -180 favorites.
Los Blancos have drawn two of their last five matches, in all competitions, though and a draw sits at +340 odds.
Athletic Club haven’t won a La Liga game at the Bernabeu for 19 years and they’re +460 underdogs for this one. With Vini Jr. out for Real, Athletic Club’s task becomes a little bit easier. Still, Real Madrid are one goal favorites and bettors can take Real -1 and Athletic Club +1 at -110 odds.
Los Blancos have scored four goals in back-to-back games but that isn’t expected to be the case here. Under 2.5, 3 goals for the match are priced at -115 odds. If Athletic Club pull off the upset, it would allow Barcelona back into the title race. Still, this is a match Real will expect to win.
For La Liga betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
