As we head into Game Week Four in La Liga, just two teams have 100 per cent records and, not surprisingly, it’s Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But both Spanish powerhouses face tricky away fixtures this weekend, with Real Madrid in particular preparing for a tough trip to the San Mames.
Athletic Bilbao go into Saturday evening’s clash sat sixth in La Liga, having played just two games to date – recording one win and one draw.
The Basque outfit are normally strong on home soil and have lost just three of their last 16 home league fixtures, although those losses have come in their last six home games.
Expect goals in Bilbao
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s summer switch to Juventus, many pundits expressed their concern over whether Real could replace his goals.
But, under Julen Lopetegui, the Madrid giants have already scored 10 goals in their opening three league games. Karim Benzema has enjoyed a new lease of life since Ronaldo’s departure, scoring four goals in the first three games, and the Frenchman is 5.50 to score first in Bilbao.
Gareth Bale has also been amongst the goals, with the Welshman netting a goal in each of their three league fixtures.
Bilbao also know where the goals is, bagging four goals in their two matches, although they have not been able to keep a clean sheet as yet.
In five of their last six meetings both teams have scored and the 1.55 on offer for BTTS to score in this fixture looks a good bet.
Lopetegui could make changes
With a long journey facing Real in midweek – with a Champions League clash coming up against Roma on Wednesday – there could be a few changes made to their starting XI.
Isco started on the bench in their crushing 4-1 win over Leganes and the Spanish international could be handed a place in the starting XI. The forward can be backed at 2.85 to score at anytime on Saturday.
Lopetegui may also decide to rotate his goalkeepers over the next week, with Kaylor Navas recently losing his place as number one to Thibault Courtois. It was Navas who kept Real’s only clean sheet of the season to date, in the opening game success over Getafe.
The hosts are still without veteran striker Aritz Aduriz, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, but in Inaki Williams they have a wide player who is capable of causing any defence problems with his pace and trickery.
Williams scored in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu last term and he is available at 3.25 to repeat the feat this weekend.
Real out to continue San Mames run
Athletic Bilbao held Real to two draws last season, but the visitors are unbeaten on their last three visits to the San Mames.
Two of those three games ended in 2-1 wins for Real and a repeat scoreline this time around can be backed at 9.25.
It’s unlikely that Real will steamroller their opponents, but they do look to have the strength in depth to edge this clash and claim a big three points.
