The Daily Star Ireland
Athletic Bilbao has established itself as a consistent contender in LaLiga, showcasing resilience and a commitment to playing attractive football. Under their coach’s guidance, they have effectively blended young talents with experienced players. Key players like Unai Simón in goal, Yuri Berchiche at left-back, and Oihan Sancet in attacking midfield have been instrumental in their success.
The squad also features promising talents such as Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta, who inject energy and creativity into the team. With a strong emphasis on developing homegrown players, Athletic Bilbao continues to be a formidable force in Spanish football.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, under Carlo Ancelotti’s leadership, is navigating a challenging season with determination and focus. Ancelotti’s exceptional man-management keeps the team motivated despite recent struggles. Newcomers like Raul Asencio have delivered solid performances, while Kylian Mbappe is finding his rhythm thanks to Ancelotti’s tactical adjustments.
The blend of experienced and emerging talent, guided by Ancelotti’s seasoned leadership, ensures that Real Madrid remains a powerful force in LaLiga.
As we look forward to the upcoming clash between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, it’s evident that Real Madrid’s recent results have been mixed. They have secured dominant victories against Leganes (3:0) and Osasuna (4:0), showcasing their attacking prowess, but also suffered setbacks with defeats to Liverpool (0:2) and AC Milan (1:3), revealing some defensive vulnerabilities. This inconsistency raises questions about their ability to maintain high performance levels consistently.
Athletic Bilbao, known for their resilience and solid defensive setups, will aim to capitalize on Real Madrid’s recent defensive lapses. Leveraging their home advantage, Bilbao will seek to disrupt Real Madrid’s attacking flow and exploit any defensive gaps.
The tactical battle will focus on whether Real Madrid can break through Bilbao’s defense and maintain their offensive momentum, while Bilbao aims to contain and counter-attack effectively. This matchup promises to be a fascinating contest between two strategic minds and their disciplined teams.
Looking ahead to the duel between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid on December 4, 2024, a 1:0 victory for Athletic Bilbao seems highly plausible. Given Real Madrid’s recent defensive weaknesses and inconsistency, Bilbao’s solid defense and home advantage could prove decisive. Bilbao’s ability to frustrate Real Madrid’s attack and capitalize on a key moment might secure them a narrow yet crucial win.
Prediction
Real Madrid’s recent away matches have been low-scoring, with 13 of their last 19 top-flight trips featuring under 2.5 goals. Similarly, Athletic Bilbao’s recent games in LaLiga have also seen fewer goals, with ten of their last 14 matches, including four of the most recent six at their stadium, delivering two goals or fewer.
Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1 : 0 Real Madrid
