Prediction and odds for the game: Athletic Bilbao (11/4) v Atletico Madrid (6/5)

We are backing the draw at odds of 19/10

When: Sunday, 14th June 2020, Kick-off 13:00

Where: San Mames

On Sunday afternoon, Athletic Bilbao host Atletico Madrid at San Mames in La Liga, with the visitors looking to enhance their chances of featuring in the Champions League next season.

Athletic Bilbao

The home side has endured an inconsistent campaign and currently sit tenth-place in the table. The Basque team are eight points behind the visitors, who currently occupy the final European spot in the Spanish top-flight.

A top-six maybe just out of the reach of the visitors this season, but there have been some encouraging signs for Athletic in the shape of back to back wins against Villarreal and Real Valladolid.

Their recent league matches have been low-scoring, with eight of their last 11 matches in the Spanish top-flight producing over 2.5 goals. This game could well follow a similar trend.

Rather uncharacteristically for Athletic, their recent form at San Mames has been poor. A 1-0 win over Villarreal in their last home outing in the Spanish top-flight ended a four-match winless streak. Unsurprisingly, Athletic’s recent home games have been low-scoring in La Liga, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their last six league outings at San Mames.

Atletico Madrid

The visitors from the capital are enduring a difficult La Liga campaign by their recent high standards under highly-rated boss Diego Simeone. In a tight race for the last Champions League spot, Atletico are a point behind Real Sociedad and Getafe, the two teams above them. A win in this game would really boost their top-four hopes.

Los Colchoneros head into this game on the back of a five-game undefeated run. Unfortunately for Atletico, three of their last four league matches have ended all square, including a 2-2 home draw with Sevilla.

Atletico have not been as solid in defence of late in La Liga, as their notoriously stingy defence has kept just one clean sheet in their last six league outings. Both teams have also scored in their last four La Liga matches.

Los Rojiblancos have been poor on their travels of late in the Spanish top-flight, winning just once in ten league matches on the road. The visitors have also failed to win in four outings away from the capital in La Liga.

Conclusion

Athletic’s form seems to have been improving before the enforced break. The break may have done the visitors some good. However, we are backing this game to finish all-square, as their home and recent away records suggest that neither team are highly confident heading into this game.

We are also backing under 2.5 goals scored, as both these teams are regarded as teams that tend to be solid defensive, despite Atleti’s recent defensive dip.

Verdict: We are backing the draw at odds of 19/10 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 4/9. (All odds are taken from Bet365).

[geosnippet id=3620]

If you are looking for a bookmaker for your bet on Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid, then check out our betting page for Soccertimes recommended bookmakers. If this was your sort of article, head over to our soccer predictions page for more tips and previews.

Will either team return from the break in winning fashion?