Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 11/08/2023, 06:51  by Daniel Ngulu in LaLiga Predictions

Real Madrid have a tough opening in their La Liga campaign, traveling to Athletic Bilbao on Match Day 1. Hosts Athletic finished eighth in the league last season and hope to give this season a better push. The arrival of Inigo Ruiz and Javier Morton should boost their chances though they seem lighter than their opponents. The departure of Inigo Martinez is a blow somehow, but they still have the Inaki brothers to rely on. Coming off a busy preseason where they managed just a win in seven could have an implication on their confidence. In the last four preseason matches, they failed to keep a clean sheet, but scored in all four. With just a win in eight La Liga matches, this will be a tough one. Even in their closing home league matches, they lost three of four, while failing to score in those defeats. Athletic Bilbao will hope to build on their only win over Real Madrid in the last seven encounters.

Real Madrid had a tough season last time, by their standards, finishing 10 points below champions Barcelona in La Liga. They come into this game having lost heavily in their closing two preseason matches. Los Blancos will definitely be in better shape than they were in the 3-0 and 3-1 losses to Barcelona and Juventus. The Spanish giants finished the season unbeaten in three matches, winning two. Last season they won the Copa del Rey and will be targeting bigger things this time. Real Madrid haven't lost to Athletic Bilbao in the last two matches; their last meeting ended 1-1. The Spanish giants have three wins in their last five La Liga matches. One of their best players over the recent years, Karim Benzema left in the summer. However, Jude Bellingham is among their key signings, while there’s the link with Kylian Mbappe hanging around the club.