Real Madrid vs Athletic Club Predictions & Match Preview

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for expert analysis, the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Los Blancos aim to go further clear at the top.

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club Preview

Real Madrid have the chance to go 7 points clear at the top of the Spanish top flight on Wednesday when they host Athletic Club. This is a rearranged game from earlier in the season with neither team in Copa del Rey action this week due to their Supercopa commitments.

Los Blancos have emerged as the clear favourites to win LaLiga in recent weeks. They’ve not just reeled off six straight wins in all competitions but have also put in some very convincing performances on the kind of level we simply haven’t seen from any other team this season. The massive improvement we’ve seen from Vini Junior has been key to all that and the young Brazilian was vital again at the weekend as his stunning late goal sealed a 2-1 comeback win against Sevilla.

That wasn’t the best we’ve seen Madrid play this season and plenty of credit should go to a Sevilla side that were the better team for large periods. However there was still almost an inevitability that Los Blancos would find a way back into the match and they have a chance to lay down a real marker here by opening up a significant advantage at the top.

That won’t be easy against an Athletic side that has only suffered two defeats so far this season and is yet to lose away. However the current feelings around this team are not positive with Athletic having gone 5 without victory in LaLiga, not great at all when you consider their last three games have been against Cadiz, Levante and Granada with two of those fixtures at San Mames.

For the first time since he arrived in Bilbao at the start of 2021, Marcelino is starting to come under real pressure. There is criticism of his team’s style of play and failure to score goals. They’ve managed just 13 so far this term and have struggled to break teams down but this kind of fixture may just suit them a bit more as they should be able to sit deep and play on the break.

Head to Head

• Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 4 Real Madrid Wins, 1 Athletic Win, 1 Draw.
• Real Madrid have won all of the last 3 league meetings.
• However Athletic did win 2-1 in the Supercopa Semi-Finals in January.
• Athletic have drawn on 2 of their last 4 trips to Real Madrid.

Team News

Dani Ceballos and Gareth Bale are still out for Real Madrid whilst Eden Hazard is a doubt again.

Íñigo Martínez is suspended for the visitors while fellow centre-back Dani Vivian is sidelined through injury along with Asier Villalibre.

Possible Lineups

Real Madrid: Courtois – Mendy, Alaba, Militao, Carvajal – Kroos, Casemiro, Camavinga – Vini Jr, Benzema, Asensio (4-3-3)

Athletic Club: Simon – Balenziaga, Nunez, Yeray, Lekue – Muniain, Vencedor, D. Garcia, N. Williams – R. Garcia, I. Williams (4-4-2)

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club Predictions

Score Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Athletic Club

Athletic may nick a goal on the break here but they have defensive selection issues and it’s hard to see them keeping Real Madrid out for 90 minutes. Los Blancos are starting to find a real rhythm under Carlo Ancelotti and look capable of making it 7 wins on the spin in all competitions here to go 7 points clear at the top.

All LaLiga Previews & Predictions

PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips. No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.