Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao tips and predictions

Real Madrid looking hard to oppose

It's first placed Real Madrid hosting ninth placed Athletic Bilbao in this LaLiga clash as the home team looks to add to the 13 points that separate the sides.

It might not be very long after the 8:00pm kick-off before the home side establishes a stranglehold on the match. Common sense suggests that when these sides square off they're likely to produce some goals.

The favouritism for the home side isn't breaking news. If anything in fact, one could justify Real Madrid being a tad shorter.

The hosts go into the match having put 15 wins in the record books from their last 20 games.

This home side is putting together some decent passages of play and they have plenty of reasons for confidence. Los Blancos scored two or more goals in 8 of their recent 9 matches and that's been backed up throughout the squad. In defence they've conceded no more than once in all of their last 9 games. No doubt they'll see this clash as an opportunity to keep another clean sheet.

In front of goal the visitors have been disappointing. They've scored one or less goals in all of their last 16 away matches. Doing a deep dive into these stats paints a pretty encouraging picture for the home side - perhaps they don't need to fear Athletic Bilbao's strikers.

These sides are familiar foes. Real Madrid have won 13 of the last 20 fixtures between the two teams.

Real Madrid are decent favourites and it's possible they just don't give any chances away to Athletic Bilbao. It's not a strong view so maybe best to give it a miss but the No BTTS bet is fair. Even if Athletic Bilbao make a spirited start expect Los Blancos to have too much for them.