Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Prediction, 8/12/2023 La Liga Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Tony Sink - 8/9/2023

Game: Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid

Date: Saturday, August 12, 2023

Location: San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Athletic Bilbao (+226) Real Madrid (+117)

The Meringues (24-5-8 last season) are on their way to San Mamés on Saturday where they will try to defeat the Lions (14-8-14 last year). Real Madrid are priced at +117 and Athletic Bilbao are priced +226. The total comes in at 2.5. The goalies protecting the net are Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao and Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid.

soccer picks Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao predictions best bet odds

Athletic Bilbao accounted for 81 saves and were the owners of a save rate of 67.2 for the previous season. Their differential on goals was at 5 by 46 goals put in the net in addition to 41 goals relinquished. For the previous campaign, the squad had an average of 1.39 points per match (50 pts) and they also sat at 5th in the league with 33 assists. The Lions sat at 6th in relation to goals expected having 49.4, and their expected goals against were 34.2. Athletic Bilbao recorded 78 yellow card warnings last season and 5 red cards. Athletic Bilbao relinquished 41 goals while allowing 1.14 goals per 90, and opposing clubs had 119 shots on target against them. They accounted for 11 clean sheets, which had them at a percentage of 30.6 during the previous year.

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The Meringues finished with an average of 2.1 pts per match while accounting for 56 assists and 3 red cards. Real Madrid tallied a clean sheet % of 35.1 for the prior year and 70 yellow cards. Real Madrid ranked 2nd in relation to goals against with 35, and the squad's goal difference was 39. For the season, the Meringues had a save rate of 75.6 (127 SoTA), and sat at 2nd in La Liga with 77 pts. This team's goals against per 90 was sitting at 0.95 with 93 saves, and they amassed 13 clean sheets. Real Madrid recorded 74 goals and their xG in the previous season was 73.7.

The guy defending the goal for Athletic Bilbao will be Unai Simon. Simon (51-43-49 mark in his professional soccer career) has accumulated 42 shutouts, which gives him a 29.4% clean sheet rate. The keeper from Spain has seen 465 shots sent in his direction in 143 starts. His goals against per 90 mins is 1.06 (150 goals given up) and he is the owner of a save % of 71.6. Simon has played for a total of 12,756 mins and has accumulated 321 stops thus far in his career.

Thibaut Courtois will look after the net for Real Madrid. In his career, Courtois has given up 398 goals and has totaled 1,046 stops in 444 starts. He has given up 0.90 goals per 90 minutes and he has a record of 273-92-76. He sports a save % of 74.0 and his shutout rate is currently 43.0%. Courtois has racked up 191 shutouts and defended 1,444 shots against him in 39,774 minutes throughout his career.

Inaki Williams is a player who can be a force for Athletic Bilbao. He has 35 assists while accumulating 25 yellow card warnings in his career. The forward hailing from Spain has totaled 64 goals scored in 22,539 minutes played. Williams has had a starting assignment in 261 games in his pro soccer career and he scores 0.26 G/90.

Real Madrid has a playmaker in Vinicius Junior, who is a thorn in the side of defenses. The forward born in Brazil has accumulated 11,408 professional minutes while he has scored 42 goals. He is currently averaging 0.33 goals per 90 mins and has started 120 outings so far in his career. He has totaled 29 yellow cards so far in his career and has helped a teammate on a goal 27 times.

Who will win tonight's La Liga game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Real Madrid (+117)

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Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Prediction, 8/12/2023 La Liga Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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