D1 - Football - Spain - La Liga

I think Athletic Bilbao could remain unbeaten here. The Bask outfit were able to upset Real Madrid in the last period - they played an 1:1 draw at Bernabeu in June on the final matchday of last season, won 1:0 in February 2022 in the cup, won 2:1 in January 2021 in supercup etc.

Athletic Bilbao finished as eighth last season, two points behind seventh-placed Osasuna. Athletic brought two players, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta from Mallorca and Javier Marton from Sociedad. The transfer windows are usually bored for Bilbao fans and this wasn't an exception due to the club's Basque-only policy in the transfer market. Nevertheless, the fans love their club and they will support them tonight. The home advantage is the first reason for my pick. But there is more.

According to me, Real are weaker this season. The departure of the key striker Karim Benzema is big handicap for Ancelotti. Several new players signed during the summer (Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Fran Garcia), but I think they need some time for acclimatization. On top of that, the key midfielder Luka Modric is old, as well as Kroos. Worst of all, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will undergo surgery, having suffered an ACL injury, so Andriy Lunin will replace him. I see lot of problems for Real.

12/08/2023 18:09, read 197 times