La Liga: Busy Madrid Face a Bilbao Test

Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao

First plays fourth in the Primera Division clash of the weekend when leaders Real Madrid host Champions League-chasing Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.   

With nine games to go and an eight-point lead over second placed Barcelona, the 2024 La Liga title is inching ever closer for Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, while Athletic Club are currently in fourth place.

Bilbao are a point ahead of Atletico Madrid and six behind surprise package Girona, who have faltered of late, losing three from the last five.     

Before the break, Madrid beat Osasuna 4-2 while Bilbao saw off Alaves with a 2-0 victory, and Ernesto Valverde’s visitors are sure to give Los Blancos a serious test of their title credentials.

Talking Points

Manchester date in mind for Madrid

The La Liga 2024 betting odds have not yet closed the book on a Real Madrid title, but another two or three good weeks and we can hand it over to Ancelotti.

But the Blancos’ boss has another target in mind as his team has a Champions League quarter-final date with Manchester City looming.

The first leg in Madrid is on the 9^th April with the away leg following the week after. Sandwiched in between is an away game against Real Mallorca, so this is a big two and a half weeks for Real.

Ancelotti has to balance his priorities, and he’s a master of that with four Champions League wins as a manager, and he has won all of Europe’s top five leagues.

He looks set to win his second La Liga title with Real Madrid, though Barca will prepare to pounce if Los Blancos lose any focus. But to beat Manchester City over two legs would be some achievement and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be all over that tie.

The manager needs his top players to maintain their superb form, and La Liga top scorer Jude Bellingham, with 16 goals, certainly looks on it. He scored a late equaliser for England against Belgium on Tuesday.

Brazil striker Vinicius Junior has also impressed throughout the campaign, scoring 12 goals and making four assists. But on the sad side of La Liga 2024 news, he has once again had to speak out against racism in Spain, saying that the abuse he has received makes him feel less motivated.

Last season, there were 10 such incidents and La Liga needs to act, but Ancelotti’s job is to make his star man feel loved as well as keeping focused.

Another youngster Eduardo Camavinga gave the Madrid boss a scare when he was taken off during France’s 3-2 friendly win over Chile, and he will undergo tests to his ankle on Friday before Ancelotti makes a final decision on his lineup.

Camavinga is a player the boss may choose to rest with an eye on that date with Manchester City.                   

Can Guruzeta pick up where he left off?      

Spanish striker Gorka Guruzeta hit a rich vein of form before the break, scoring twice in the 2-0 win over Alaves to make it 13 goals for the season.

It was his fifth goal in five games, and he’s having his best run in a Bilbao shirt since his transfer from Amorebieta in 2022. At 6’2”, he’s strong in the air and has become a clinical finisher.  

Guruzeta has benefited from the service of wide man Nico Williams, who made an assist in the win over Alaves on his return to action following a red card suspension received in a recent loss to Real Betis.

Williams is a much admired winger with some of the Premier League’s top clubs tracking him, and his electric pace and delivery can throw a defence into panic.

This is a team with youth on its side with 20-year-old attacking midfielder Unai Gomez impressing this season and 23-year-old Oihan Sancet also pushing for a place.

And with Spain keeper Unai Simon as the last line of defence, they can withstand serious pressure, earning clean sheets recently against both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

The Lions finished eighth last season, and Valverde is well on course to better that. And his team has recently showed how it can deal with the best, dumping Atletico out of the Copa del Rey with a 4-0 aggregate and drawing with Barcelona in the league.

The Lions won’t fear Madrid.     

History

Real Madrid have bossed this relationship, winning 45 to Bilbao’s 14, while there have been 15 draws over the past 64 meetings. And Los Blancos won the return fixture as Jude Bellingham scored on his debut in a 2-0 win.  

Recent form is strong for both clubs as Bilbao have won four, drawn one, and lost one of the last six games, while Real Madrid have won three and drawn three.  

Betting Tip

With Real Madrid at 1.52, the draw at 3.90, and Bilbao at 5.30, this looks like another three points for Los Blancos. However, the visitors are in good form, and they have the players to hurt their hosts.

Of course Los Blancos are packed with quality, but with Manchester City on their minds and Vinicius unhappy, it’s possible they might drop their guard, leaving the door open for a Basque success.

 

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