In this tricky season Real Madrid has just one game left before the players jet off on holiday to start a major rebuild of the entire club from top to bottom. After the heavy defeat to Barcelona the team steadied the ship by beating lower league sides Real Oviedo and Sevilla but nobody should read too much into those narrow wins because the opposition was far from strong. The squad still boasts plenty of world class talent and that individual quality alone has delivered results in recent outings yet facing a fired up Athletic side will demand far more than flashes of brilliance from the stars.
Team Form
- Real Madrid collected six points from two basement clubs but showed little consistency in attack
- Athletic Bilbao picked up just one point from their last eight matches with five straight defeats
- Both sides lost ground in the table and now simply want to finish the campaign on a high
- Key forwards on each team remain sharp despite the poor overall results this term
Tactical Analysis
- Real will rely on quick transitions and individual dribbling to break down a compact Basque defence
- Athletic still harbour slim hopes of European football so they will press high and fight for every ball
- Weaknesses include tired legs after a long campaign and shaky organisation at the back for both teams
- Strengths lie in the creativity of Madrid attackers and the physical presence of Bilbao forwards
The Basque outfit may have little left to play for in the standings but this fixture is always special and they will treat it like a cup final. Real Madrid on the other hand are desperate to avoid another embarrassment and will look to control the game from the first whistle. Expect an open contest with plenty of space for counter attacks and set piece opportunities that could lead to goals at both ends. The two sides have traded blows in past meetings and the pattern suggests a lively finish.
Betting Proposal
Given the attacking talent on show and the fact that both teams need a morale boosting result the most sensible angle is to back goals from each side. Both teams to score yes at 1.62 stands out as the value pick for this La Liga clash.
