Real Madrid
- Real Madrid have won 14 of their 17 home LaLiga games this season, conceding an average of 0.82 goals per game at the Bernabeu.
- Real Madrid will be tough to stop even in the latter stages of the season with Kylian Mbappe on the pitch and they should make no mistake of getting the better of Athletic Bilbao in Saturday’s LaLiga contest.
- Alvaro Arbeloa has brought a more pragmatic approach to the club since taking over in January 2026 and it has certainly paid dividends in terms of results, but with three wins, one draw and one defeat from their last five LaLiga outings, Real are still in with a chance of winning the title.
- After back-to-back victories over Real Oviedo and Sevilla, they arrive in a strong position to extend that run against an Athletic Bilbao side that have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five.
- Real Madrid are second in LaLiga with 77 points from 35 games while Athletic are ninth with 44 from 35 games and the hosts are rightly the clear favorites for Saturday’s game at 1.51.
Athletic Bilbao
- Athletic Bilbao have won four and lost ten of their 17 LaLiga away games, conceding an average of 1.82 goals per game on the road.
- The visitors fell 2-0 at Espanyol last weekend, so they are unlikely to arrive in the Spanish capital in an overly confident mood.
- They have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five LaLiga matches.
Real Madrid
- Vinicius Junior has been in brilliant form for Madrid, netting three of their last three goals in their previous five matches, but it is Kylian Mbappé who remains the key difference-maker.
- Kylian Mbappé has netted 24 goals in 28 LaLiga appearances this term, averaging more than a goal every two games.
Athletic Bilbao
Gorka Guruzeta remains Athletic Bilbao’s most reliable finisher, scoring 9 in 32 LaLiga games this season, but Nico Williams has found his shooting boots recently with two in his last five .
Betting Insights
- The visitors’ odds are generous given they have failed to win in their last two away visits to Real Madrid and it is impossible to ignore the likelihood that this will be a high-scoring game with both teams to score and over 2.5 goals coming in at 1.66 and 1.5 respectively.
- Athletic will try to overload the wings and press them out of possession, so the ingredients are there for a high-paced, end-to-end game in which the hosts should take the victory.
Prediction
- Real Madrid will be tough to stop even in the latter stages of the season with Kylian Mbappé on the pitch and they should make no mistake of getting the better of Athletic Bilbao.
- Athletic’s pressing can ensure that both teams find the net at some point in what should be an open contest.
