Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Real Madrid will hope to keep tabs on Barcelona and fend off Athletic Bilbao when the two teams meet in La Liga at the San Mames on Wednesday night.

Los Blancos are one point behind Barca ahead of this week's midweek schedule, but while the Catalans travel to Mallorca on Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti's side are in action on Wednesday.

Real do have a game in hand over their rivals, but a defeat would also allow Bilbao to move within four points of their opponents.

Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid betting tips and predictions

Draw - 23/10

Bilbao finished fifth last season to secure their place in the UEFA Europa League, but they have their sights set on the UEFA Champions League this time around.

Ernesto Valverde's men have been in fine form in their first 15 games and they are only eight points behind league leaders Barca.

Bilbao head into Wednesday's game on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run, with Girona the last team to beat them in La Liga in October.

As usual, Bilbao's success has been built on some incredible home form at the San Mames, with Valverde's side only losing one of their 11 games in front of their own fans in all competitions.

That should stand them in good stead to face the reigning champions, but Ancelotti's outfit are unbeaten on the road this season in the league.

They have drawn three of their six away games this year, though, with Mallorca, Las Palmas and Atletico Madrid all able to secure a share of the spoils against the Spanish giants.

Bilbao will feel they can do the same and this match has every chance of ending in a draw.

Jude Bellingham to score or assist - 6/5

After the 4-0 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona in October, Ancelotti looked for a response from his team and England international Jude Bellingham has provided one.

The playmaker usually leads by example and the last few weeks have been no different.

He scored in all of Real's last three league wins, while he also collected two assists during that time.

Bellingham will be expected to start on Wednesday, with the visitors needing the points and he can play another crucial role on the road.

Under 2.5 goals - 1/1

Real's away record is impressive, especially to avoid defeat, but in the three games they failed to win, all three ended 1-1.

Only in their recent win over Leganes have Los Blancos scored more than two goals on the road in the league and Bilbao are set to pose a much tougher threat.

Valverde's side have kept three clean sheets in four at home in all competitions and they have only conceded six goals in eight league games at the San Mames.

Bilbao know a positive result against Real will go a long way to helping them secure their place in the top four and they should be able to keep things tight in a game that has every chance of finishing 1-1, which is available at odds of 11/2.

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Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid odds

Athletic Bilbao - 11/5
Draw - 23/10
Real Madrid - 5/4

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.