Real Madrid will look to get 3 points as they host a top 4 chasing Athletic Bilbao side who are in must win situation.
Looking at the table with 6 games left, Real Madrid don’t have anything to play for other than potentially overtaking city rivals Atletico Madrid for 2nd place which won’t mean anything really. Real are 13 points off the top and 10 points clear of 5th so they’re neither fighting for the title or are in danger of missing out on top 4. Meanwhile Bilbao are currently 7th and are 6 points off the 4th placed Sevilla and with not many games left every game is a must win for them if they want a shot of getting Champions League football for next season.
Real Madrid have been up and down this whole season and their current form hasn’t been too convincing. Although they have a decent 3W 1D 1L record since Zidane got appointed, Real still haven’t been too convincing in their wins and have dropped some points like most recently against Leganes where they only managed a 1-1 draw in their last game. Real are definitely a team that are not playing their best football though it’s been a little better than what they were doing over a month ago.
Bilbao have been pretty good themselves. Just 2 defeats from last 11 games (6W 3D) and they’re coming off a very important 3-2 win against Rayo Vallecano. Bilbao have been one of the better turnaround stories this season in La Liga as they were hovering around relegation in November, however ever since they have played really well and have put themselves in a potential race for top 4. Bilbao should be coming into this game full of confidence that they can come and get something from the Bernabeu especially with how up and down Real Madrid look.
Real Madrid have been wasteful at the Bernabeu this season. Now their record is 11W 1D 4L which would be great for most teams, but for Madrid this isn’t that good of a record especially considering they have had 4 losses and have had a tendency to drop games they shouldn’t at home like losing to Sociedad, Girona and Levante. Now Madrid have won all 3 games at the Bernabeu under Zidane, but once again they weren’t very convincing having to come back against Eibar to win 2-1, beating bottom of the league Huesca 3-2 thanks to a late winner and they beat Celta Vigo 2-0 which was probably their best win out of the 3 though Vigo are also low in the table themselves so yeah they have been winning a lot at home still, but some performances have been unconvincing and they have had a tendency to lose games they shouldn’t here.
Bilbao have been very poor on their travels this season with just 3 wins from 15 (6D 6L). Only 15 of Bilbao’s 46 total points have come away from home and that is a worrying sign as they come to the Bernabeu. Now Bilbao have been better on their travels lately like their whole form as all 3 of those total wins have come in their last 7 away games and they only lost 2 of those so despite their overall bad record, Bilbao have been a bit better away from home lately. They only picked up 1 point at big grounds this season from 9 as they lost to Valencia and Atletico, but they have had a very impressive draw at Nou Camp against league leaders Barcelona.
Karim Benzema without a doubt is the man to watch for Real Madrid. He’s been their only consistent player up front all season with 26 total goals, 18 in the league and he’s been in very good form lately scoring 7 goals in his last 6 games and bagging at least one goal in each of his last 4 (5 total goals). Karim’s just been a goal scoring machine this season.
As for Bilbao, the forward Inaki Williams is the man to watch. Top scorer in the league for the club with 12 and he’s been in great form having scored 5 goals in his last 5 league apps including bagging a brace in the last game against Rayo Vallecano. Expect him to cause threat here.
The reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw back in September during the early stages of the season. In fact each of the past 3 H2H meetings between these sides ended in low scoring draws (0-0 1-1 1-1).
Real Madrid have dominated Bilbao at home over the last decade and a half. Although the last meeting ended with a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu last season, Real Madrid did win 13 in a row prior to that draw at home. Bilbao haven’t won here since February 2005.
Real Madrid as expected are bookies favourites to win the game at 1.52 whereas Bilbao are the underdogs of course at 6.40 with Draw offered at 4.45. Odds are based on Unibet.
Team News
Real Madrid: Vinicius continues to be out meanwhile captain Sergio Ramos is listed as doubtful after missing the game against Leganes which could leave them short at the back. Mariano Diaz is also out, Toni Kroos is a doubt.
Athletic Bilbao: Ibai Gomez, Mikel Rico and Ander Capa are all out for the visitors.
Betting Stats
Real Madrid have covered just 12.5% of their total goal overs at home in La Liga this season which is the worst in the league (2-14).
Real Madrid have covered 18.8% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in the league this season (3-13). 2nd worst in La Liga.
Real Madrid average 1.69 bookings per game at home in the league this season (27 bookings in 16 games).
Karim Benzema is Real Madrid’s top scorer at home in the league with 7 goals at the Bernabeu in La Liga.
Real Madrid have covered just 25% of their Handicaps at home in the league this season which is tied 2nd worst (4-2-10).
Real Madrid have covered 25% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in the league this season (4-2-10).
Bilbao have covered 40% of their total goal overs away from home in the league this season (6-9).
Bilbao have covered 40% of their 1st half total goal overs away from home in the league this season (6-5-4).
Bilbao average 3.33 bookings per game away from home in the league this season (50 bookings in 15 games).
Inaki Williams is Bilbao’s top scorer away from home with 6 goals on Bilbao’s travels in the league this season.
Bilbao have covered 40% of their Handicaps away from home in the league this season (6-3-6).
Bilbao have covered 46.7% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in the league this season (7-3-5).
KICK OFF – 21st April 2019 – 3:15pm UK Time
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