- Real Madrid have won two and Athletic Bilbao once in their last three meetings, with Madrid’s last win a 1-0 home victory seven months ago.
- Los Blancos have won four, drawn two and lost one of seven away games in LaLiga this season, conceding nine goals.
- Athletic Bilbao have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five matches in all competitions.
Madrid looking to regain momentum
Two very different tactical approaches will meet when Real Madrid face Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga 2025-2026 on Wednesday in a game that could swing momentum for one side or the other in the league or Europe. This match provides an ideal opportunity for our Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid prediction to be put to the test, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths.
Xabi Alonso has brought structure, flexibility and a coordinated high-pressing game to Madrid’s play, making them a more controlled possession team while also a danger from transitions. His team have won 4-3 in a thriller at Olympiakos in the Champions League and drawn back-to-back away LaLiga games to make their recent results look a mixed bag of two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Athletic have shown a similar inconsistency with two draws, one win and two defeats in their last five, but they are solid at home with four wins, one draw and two losses from seven home games in the Spanish top flight.
They have only scored an average of 1.14 goals per game at home, however, and are likely to be facing the best finisher in the world on Wednesday when Kylian Mbappe takes the field for Madrid. The Frenchman has scored 13 goals in 13 games in LaLiga and six of Madrid’s last ten goals in all competitions.
Clash of identities could lead to an engaging game
Athletic, led by Ernesto Valverde, are a different beast altogether with a much more intense pressing game and a system based on quick transitions and set piece routines. In Nico Williams, they have a real threat as he has two of Athletic’s three goals in their last five games and leads Bilbao’s scoring charts with two goals in nine games in the top flight.
This Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid preview highlights Madrid's advantage in the table with 32 points from 13 games for second place compared to Athletic’s 17 in eighth and the bookies have the visitors at 1.9 and the hosts at 4.26 for this clash. The Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid prediction suggests Madrid’s firepower and superior form are more than enough to justify their odds-on favorite status, although we see Bilbao making it close with their intensity at home.
Moreover, one of the top Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid betting tips is backing Both Teams To Score at 1.72, which looks good given the average of 1.0 Bilbao goals and 1.5 Madrid goals when they have played each other in San Mames.
