La Liga is in the midst of a heated three-way battle for the title and Atletico Madrid is one of those contenders. Their task against Bilbao will be to secure the 3 points and keep their challenge going, but Athletic is currently fourth and with a very real chance of securing UCL football next season. The stakes are undoubtedly high for both here.
Atletico Madrid Team News
Atletico Madrid will head into the 26th round just one point from the top, but they will have the benefit of hosting Athletic Bilbao. At home, Diego Simeone’s side is undefeated in their last 14 league matches and are ranked the joint-best home team in the league alongside Real Madrid. Los Rojiblancos have long been associated with their stellar defence and this season is another testament to that – Atletico Madrid have the best defensive record in La Liga with just 16 goals conceded. However, despite the good statistics and form, it should be noted that Diego Simeone’s team has recorded 3 draws across their last 5 La Liga matches which could be an indicator of stepping off the gas pedal.
Athletic Bilbao Team News
Athletic Bilbao are in pole position to secure the 4th and last UCL spot, but there is still much football to be played and the gap between them and Villarreal is just 4 points. Much like Atletico, Bilbao’s recent form in the league is similar – 3 draws and 2 wins across their last 5 league matches. Adding to the impressive 7-1 win over Valladolid, Bilbao’s statistics point that they are a team with a capable offensive record along with a solid defensive one as they boast the third best defence in the league. Bilbao is also firing on all cylinders right now as they are unbeaten in La Liga across their last 16 games, a run that has contributed a lot for their current position.
Head-to-Head-Games
Games between Atletico and Bilbao seem to be closely contested as Atletico have 2 wins across the last 5 H2Hs, while Bilbao have won 3 matches. Only 2 games have produced over 2.5 goals, and on 3 occasions, games between these teams have produced goals in the range of 2-3.
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Current form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Atlético Madrid | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 56 | DWWLL |
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points | Current form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Athletic Bilbao | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 52 | DWLDW |
Atletico Madrid – Athletic Bilbao Betting Prediction
My pick here is for a goal range of 2-3. Looking at past H2H’s this looks like a likely outcome. Recent results of both also suggest that their games tend to feature goals in these ranges. The stakes in this game are also high for both – Diego Simeone’s men need the 3 points to keep their title challenge going, while Bilbao are determined to keep their 4th spot and UCL ticket for next season. As this is shaping up to be a highly important game, I expect it to be highly interesting and feature a range of 2-3 goals.
Betting Tip: Goal Range: 2-3
Bookmaker: Stake
Odds: 1.95
Stake
Atletico Madrid – Athletic Bilbao at Stake