Athletic Bilbao continue to experience one of their most inconsistent seasons in recent years. The team simply hasn’t managed to reach last year’s competitive level, particularly in attack, where goals remain scarce. The 2–0 away win at Levante briefly lifted the mood, but the optimism disappeared quickly after the heavy 0–3 home loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday. A recurring theme in Athletic’s matches is the lack of mutual scoring - none of their last six games in all competitions have produced a BTTS outcome, which reflects both their offensive limitations and their structured but not always resilient defensive play.
Atletico Madrid’s winning streak ends Atletico Madrid arrived at the midweek clash with Barcelona on a seven-match winning run in all competitions, but it came to an abrupt halt at the Camp Nou. The 1–3 defeat was only their second La Liga loss of the season, and again away from home, which suggests that trips outside Madrid remain the area where Simeone’s team is most vulnerable. Still, one positive trend persists: Atletico have scored in every league match this season, even in more tactical, closed encounters.
Prediction: Under 2.5 goals
Given Athletic’s ongoing difficulties in attack and their tendency toward low-scoring games, combined with Atletico’s more conservative approach in away fixtures, this matchup strongly leans toward a tighter contest. A compact structure from both sides, fewer clear chances, and a controlled rhythm point toward a match that stays below the three-goal line.
