Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are in search of their first silverware of the season when they face Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.
The two teams will meet in the white hot atmosphere of Riyadh and Marcelino’s Bilbao could well make Los Blancos sweat. Los Leones are in good form, coming from behind to beat Atletico Madrid on Thursday, and they will be desperate to retain the trophy they won last year.
Over the last three seasons the Super Cup has featured the top two teams in La Liga and the Copa del Rey finalists, and Cup specialists Bilbao enjoyed their moments among the elite last year and they have already made Super Cup 2022 news this time around. But, back in Spain, Athletic are currently 19 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid and three points outside the Europa League spots, so the SBOTOP odds are squarely behind Ancelotti’s men… but here at SBOTOP we think it will be close.
Talking Points
Madrid’s 120 minute epic
A thrilling 3-2 win over Barcelona took Los Blancos to the final and that gives Ancelotti’s side some wind in their sails, but with the semi-final going into extra time there may also be some tired legs. Barcelona gave them a real run for their money as Luuk de Jong and Anso Fati twice pegged back goals from Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema.
Fati’s deft header took the game into injury time and that set the stage for substitute Federico Valverde to score the winner and hand Real Madrid a 100th El Clasico victory.
La Liga top scorer Benzema was at his best in Real Madrid’s 4-1 destruction of Valencia last week and he looked sharp again in Saudi and Bilbao will have their work cut out to stop him.
Williams Boys get the Lions roaring
Bilbao made it through to their second successive final when 19 year old striker Nico Williams struck late in the game to make it 2-1, a fine result at any time against Diego Simeone’s Rojiblancos, but this was particularly sweet. It seemed like we were heading for an all Madrid final when Joao Felix saw his header hit the post and then bounce into the net off the hapless keeper Unai Simon; but Bilbao levelled on 77 minutes when Yeray Alvarez headed in a corner from captain Iker Munain. Los Leones piled on the pressure and eventually got their reward when Williams fired in a low shot which cannoned in off the post and Atleti’s misery was compounded when centre back Jose Gimenez was sent off for a dangerous foul on Inigo Martinez.
Last year Nico’s older brother Inaki Williams scored an extra time stunner as Bilbao shocked Bareclona to win the Super Cup. He’s Basque through and through and the 27 year old was making his 167th consecutive appearance; now his kid brother looks like he’s following in his footsteps, and Marcelino is delighted to have them both in the fold as he looks forward to the final, saying: “It’s a source of pride for us to defend our title against these three great teams.”
History
So Athletic Bilbao are Spanish Super Cup holders after beating Barcelona 3-2 last year, but it was former Blaugrana talisman Lionel Messi who stole the headlines as he was sent off in the final minute for hitting Asier Villalibre in the heat of the moment, as the final was held in Spain due to the Covid pandemic. That was Messi’s first ever red card and it sent shock waves through Catalonia!
Barcelona still hold the record for the most Super Cup titles with 13 wins to Real Madrid’s 11, then it’s Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo La Coruna with three, while Los Rojiblancos have won it twice, most recently in 2014.
Real and Bilbao have met twice recently, Los Blancos winning 1-0 at the Bernabeu early in December as Los Leones missed a hatful of big chances, and then Aneclotti’s side won 2-1 at the San Mames three weeks later.
Betting Tip
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 | Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid | Athletic Bilbao Asian Handicap + 0.75 @ 1.97 |
| January 17, 02:30 (GMT+8) |
The final is at a neutral venue but the Super Cup 2022 betting odds are heavily behind Real Madrid at a price of 1.68 with the draw at 3.64 and Bilbao are the outside chance at 4.26.
But Los Leones were impressive in their victory over Atletico and they have pushed Real all the way in two recent meetings so I expect them to do so again on Sunday, in the heat of Saudi Arabia.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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