Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Preview

The Spanish top flight action also concludes this Sunday and features this upcoming clash between second-placed Real Madrid and eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu with the hosts already assured of a Champions League spot but Athletic Bilbao still have an outside chance of a top seven finish.

Real Madrid are 11 points adrift of the La Liga title holders, Barcelona, but the hosts will be satisfied with attaining another top four finish in the Spanish top flight which also holds the guarantee of Champions League football for next season, and the hosts will be keen to make it three league wins on the trot to sign off in style this season.

Recent wins against Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla have helped lift Real above their local Madrid rivals, Atletico, but just one point separates the two clubs so Sunday's hosts will be keen to record another win here in order to claim the all-important bragging rights as well.

Real Madrid have enjoyed a successful campaign on home soil too, losing just once throughout the season to date whilst also picking up 13 wins within their 18 home games played so far this term.

Athletic Bilbao are level on points with seventh-placed Osasuna heading into this final game of the La Liga season and the visitors know they must pick up all three points at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu to just be in with a chance of a European spot next season.

Other results need to go Athletic Bilbao's way as well in order for the visitors to claim a top seven finish but just recording a win against Real Madrid may be easier said than done as the visitors have managed to collect just one win from their last seven matches overall, that being a 2-1 home win over relegation threatened Celta Vigo.

Five defeats within these last seven games though have threatened to undo all of Athletic Bilbao's previous good work in the Spanish top flight having suffered defeats at the hands of Sevilla, Real Betis, Villarreal, Osasuna and Elche, while also losing two of their last three outings on the road as well along with conceding in their last eight matches.

Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao Verdict

Real Madrid have won five out of the previous six meetings with Athletic Bilbao and having suffered just one defeat on home soil all season in this La Liga campaign, it's hard to see how the visitors can halt this trend, especially at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

To make matters worse for Athletic Bilbao, the visitors have managed to capture just four wins out of their last 16 outings on their travels and they look to be up against it here as well.

Therefore, our main bet will be Real Madrid win @ 1.95

Other side bets worth considering:

Real Madrid win & Under 2.5 goals @ 5.50

Correct score: Real Madrid 2-0 @ 11.00