Football Previews
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid
Competition – Spanish Primera
Stadium – San Mamés
Date: 22nd December 2021
Kick-off time – 20:30 GMT
La Liga leaders, Real Madrid will look to continue their impressive run in all competitions when they travel to the Estadio San Mamés to face Athletic Bilbao.
Bilbao come into this tie fresh from a 3-2 win over high-flying Real Betis, coming from 2-1 down to take all three points in the 89th minute.
That result ended their previous three-match home winless run (D1, L2), and also boosted their chances of European qualification as they now sit just five points behind Real Sociedad in sixth spot
However, the hosts must fix their floundering attack if they want to finish the season in the top six. They have scored just 16 goals across their last 18 league games, which is the worst return of any side above 15th spot heading into this game.
Real Madrid could not pick up maximum points in their last game as they were held to a goalless draw with struggling Cadiz.
That result ended the club’s previous ten-match winning run in all competitions.
The result itself did not affect their placement in the table as they are currently sitting at the top, six points clear of the rest.
They will hope to get back to winning ways here in Northern Spain but are currently dealing with injury and Covid issues as up to ten first-team players are missing.
Despite the setback, Madrid remains the favourites in this tie as they have won five of their last seven head-to-head meetings with Bilbao who have just one win (D1) in that period.
Other fixtures taking place this week in the Spanish Primera:
| December 22, 2024 | ||
| Valencia | 14:00 | Alaves |
| Real Madrid | 16:15 | Sevilla |
| Leganes | 18:30 | Villarreal |
| Las Palmas | 18:30 | Espanyol |
| Real Betis | 21:00 | Rayo Vallecano |
| January 3, 2025 | ||
| Valencia | 21:00 | Real Madrid |
| January 10, 2025 | ||
| Rayo Vallecano | 21:00 | Celta Vigo |
| January 11, 2025 | ||
| Alaves | 14:00 | Girona |
| Real Valladolid | 16:15 | Real Betis |
| Espanyol | 18:30 | Leganes |
| Sevilla | 21:00 | Valencia |
| January 12, 2025 | ||
| Las Palmas | 14:00 | Getafe |
| Atlético de Madrid | 16:15 | Osasuna |
| January 13, 2025 | ||
| Real Sociedad | 21:00 | Villarreal |
| January 17, 2025 | ||
| Espanyol | 21:00 | Real Valladolid |
| January 18, 2025 | ||
| Osasuna | 14:00 | Rayo Vallecano |
| Leganes | 16:15 | Atlético de Madrid |
| Celta Vigo | 18:30 | Athletic Bilbao |
| Getafe | 21:00 | Barcelona |
Spanish Primera Table
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | G | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlético de Madrid | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 12 | +21 | 41 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 19 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 51 | 22 | +29 | 38 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 37 | 16 | +21 | 37 |
| 4 | Athletic Bilbao | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 29 | 17 | +12 | 36 |
| 5 | Mallorca | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 30 |
| 6 | Villarreal | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 28 | +1 | 27 |
| 7 | Real Sociedad | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 25 |
| 8 | Girona | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 25 |
| 9 | Osasuna | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 23 | 27 | -4 | 25 |
| 10 | Celta Vigo | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 27 | 28 | -1 | 24 |
| 11 | Real Betis | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 21 | -1 | 24 |
| 12 | Sevilla | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 22 |
| 13 | Rayo Vallecano | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 21 |
| 14 | Las Palmas | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 27 | -5 | 19 |
| 15 | Leganes | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 23 | -8 | 18 |
| 16 | Getafe | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 16 |
| 17 | Alaves | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 28 | -9 | 16 |
| 18 | Espanyol | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 29 | -13 | 15 |
| 19 | Real Valladolid | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 37 | -25 | 12 |
| 20 | Valencia | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 24 | -10 | 11 |
Spanish Primera Results
| December 21, 2024 | ||
| Barcelona | 1 - 2 | Atlético de Madrid |
| Osasuna | 1 - 2 | Athletic Bilbao |
| Celta Vigo | 2 - 0 | Real Sociedad |
| Getafe | 0 - 1 | Mallorca |
| December 20, 2024 | ||
| Girona | 3 - 0 | Real Valladolid |
| December 18, 2024 | ||
| Espanyol | 1 - 1 | Valencia |
| Villarreal | 1 - 1 | Rayo Vallecano |
| December 15, 2024 | ||
| Barcelona | 0 - 1 | Leganes |
| Villarreal | 1 - 2 | Real Betis |
| Real Sociedad | 0 - 0 | Las Palmas |
| Alaves | 1 - 1 | Athletic Bilbao |
| Atlético de Madrid | 1 - 0 | Getafe |
| December 14, 2024 | ||
| Rayo Vallecano | 3 - 3 | Real Madrid |
| Sevilla | 1 - 0 | Celta Vigo |
| Mallorca | 2 - 1 | Girona |
| Espanyol | 0 - 0 | Osasuna |
| December 13, 2024 | ||
| Real Valladolid | 1 - 0 | Valencia |
| December 9, 2024 | ||
| Getafe | 1 - 0 | Espanyol |
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