Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Atleti boast a strong recent record against Athletic Bilbao but based on the season they’ve been having on their travels, this feels strongly like a game where they could slip up.

Athletic Bilbao’s home record certainly supports that theory. Since losing to Barcelona in their opening home game of the campaign, they’ve played 13 home games in all competitions, winning 11 and drawing 2. That includes victory over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey while the likes of Villarreal and Sevilla have also lost at San Mames.

Only 2 teams can better their average of 2.22 points per home game in La Liga where 67% of their home matches have ended in victory. The Basques have also had the advantage of a full week off to prepare for this game while Atleti named a strong side on Thursday in the Copa del Rey, so fatigue could be an issue for one or two of their players in what is sure to be a competitive game.

Atletico Madrid are currently 6 points behind city rivals Real in the title race, having played a game more. If they want to retain realistic title ambitions they need to be winning games like this but it certainly won’t be easy. Diego Simeone’s side have suffered defeats in 3 of their last 5 away games in La Liga and were somewhat fortunate to win at Eibar in their last league away match, so clearly there are issues for them to address on the road.

They’ve experimented somewhat with their formation in recent weeks but this isn’t the sort of game where they can afford to take any risks. Atleti may have won 6 of their last 7 games but they haven’t faced anyone as strong as Athletic Bilbao in that period. In recent away games in the league they’ve looked a bit short on creativity and not as solid at the back as they have been in recent seasons.

Athletic are well equipped to expose those issues so backing Double Chance – Athletic Bilbao or Draw at 4/5 looks to offer value here.