Athletic Club vs Real Madrid 05/07/20

05 July 2020

Athletic Club entertain Real Madrid at the Estadio San Mamés, looking to bring a four-game winless run in La Liga home H2Hs to a halt (D2, L2).

The hosts have won three of their last four La Liga fixtures (L1), with three of those results (win/loss) seeing the winner on the day keep a clean sheet. Curiously, four of Athletic’s seven previous competitive home games have ended separating the sides by under 1.5 goals (W5, D1, L1), with five of those six results yielding the identical 1-0 scoreline. In turn, each of their last six top-flight H2Hs held here has produced a full-time margin of under 1.5 goals (W1, D3, L2), with four of them featuring under 2.5 goals. Los Leones have based their home success on an airtight defense that remains the only yet to allow double digits this term (nine goals conceded at home).

As for the visitors, they travel to Bilbao on the back of six La Liga wins in a row, four of which saw them keep a clean sheet. Also, none of their seven previous league away games ended (W5, L2), with the last four producing a narrow one-goal margin. Interestingly, though, Real Madrid’s away action usually bursts into life after the break, with 61.11% (22) of the 36 La Liga away goals (scored/conceded) coming in the second half of play. Los Blancos also boast the division’s best defensive record away from home (11 goals conceded) this season, conceding over 1.5 goals in a league-low two of 16 La Liga road trips.