Will the Colchoneros throw away the next match?
It’s clear where Diego Simeone’s focus lies in the final stretch of the season. With a top-four finish in the league virtually assured for the Madrid side, the “Colchoneros” stars are being rested in league play so they can shine in the cup competitions. While that didn’t help in the Copa del Rey final, which the capital club lost to Real Sociedad, Atlético is still very much in the thick of things in the Champions League, which is why Simeone is unlikely to deviate from his approach.
That, in turn, could benefit Athletic Club of Bilbao, which still has hopes of securing an international spot. Since the Madrid side has lost its last four league games due to the aforementioned circumstances (two of them against relegation candidates), it’s reasonable to assume that a bet on away points could pay off in the Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao match.
However, it is at least questionable whether it is actually worth including a bet on a victory for the visitors. Even though the “Colchoneros” are currently suffering one defeat after another in the league, it is by no means certain that the Basques will actually manage to take three points away from the capital.
Last year’s fourth-place finisher is falling far short of its own expectations this season and has already suffered 15 losses. By comparison, bottom-of-the-table Oviedo has lost 16 times this season.
As an alternative to betting on the match outcome, a bet on the number of goals is also worth considering. Since more than 2.5 goals have been scored in ten of Atlético’s last twelve games and the Basques have the second-worst defense in the top half of the table, we can expect a few goals on Saturday night.
Fortunately, because only one goal has been scored in each of the last three head-to-head matches, good odds are being offered on “over 2.5” for Atlético Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao.
Atlético Madrid – Athletic Bilbao Head-to-Head Record
In the last five matches between these two teams, the home team has always won. However, the Basques’ last away win at the Metropolitano was just over two years ago.
Atletico Madrid – Athletic Bilbao Prediction
Since Atlético is in action against Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, it’s safe to assume that Diego Simeone’s team won’t be giving their all in this league match.
Consequently, this presents an opportunity for the Basques to pick up “big points” in the race for European qualification.
Since Ernesto Valverde’s team has disappointed time and again this season, a bet on a draw at attractive odds is recommended for the Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao match. To hedge against the possibility of an away win, however, a “X2” bet can also be placed. A third option is a goal bet at Bwin.
