Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions

• Fewer than three goals have been scored in six of the last seven meetings of these clubs
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in five of Athletic Bilbao’s last six matches
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in three of Real Madrid’s last four home league games against top-six sides

Valverde’s victors to face misfiring Madrid

After experiencing contrasting fortunes in Europe this week, Real Madrid play host to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side spent most of the first half of the week talking up a remontada that never came against Arsenal, while Athletic let their football do the talking in overcoming Rangers to reach the Europa League semi-finals.

Ernesto Valverde quickly shut down the post-match celebrations at San Mames to insist his players focus on the trip to the Bernabeu, where they have not won in more than 20 years.

It is difficult to see the Basque outfit breaking that hoodoo even if Los Blancos are in a bad moment of form right now. Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to the Gunners continued a blip that began when Ancelotti’s side scraped over the line in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Sociedad last month.

Ancelotti’s side could be held in check

Since then, Valencia won at the Bernabeu for the first time in a generation and Arsenal thrashed them 3-0 at Emirates Stadium – a result which looks likely to leave him looking for a new job in the summer.

Kylian Mbappe’s form was papering over the cracks a couple of months ago, but now the suggestion that his arrival has unbalanced the team has returned. On paper, this looks a great time for Athletic Club to be playing them. But they will have 24 hours less recovery time than their hosts and Valverde’s options to freshen things up are limited.

A low-scoring draw could be the final outcome in the capital with Bilbao good enough to restruct a misfiring Madrid side to one goal – as both Alaves and Valencia have done in the league recently. Back Under 2.5 goals at the odds-against quote because fewer than three goals have been scored in five of Athletic Bilbao’s last six matches and this fixture rarely produces many thrills.