Spanish La Liga Betting – Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico Madrid
Athletic Bilbao (+260) vs. Atletico Madrid (+125) (Draw +210)
Atletico Madrid will try to close 2014 in third position of La Liga when they visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, December 21, at San Mames Stadium (3:00 p.m. Eastern).
In the moneyline, Los Colchoneros are the slight favorites to win, listed at +125 in the odds, while Athletic Bilbao is +260, and the draw +210.
This is the last game of the year for both teams. The 2014 calendar year has been spectacular for Atletico and manager Diego Simeone; they won the local title in the 2013-14 season, finished at the 2013-14 Champions League, and qualified for the Round of 16 in the 2014-15 Champions League and Copa del Rey.
Simeone summarized their success, saying, “The year has provided us with wonderful feelings. We have only lost one match at the Calderón, and that speaks highly of the work done by the players. I hope that we can start the coming year in the same way.”
In the standings, as mentioned, Atletico de Madrid is third, sitting on 32 points (10-2-3) with a solid +14 goal difference. Meanwhile, Bilbao is tenth with 19 points (5-4-6) and a -3 goal difference.
In 38 all-time games between these sides, Atletico Madrid 20 wins to Bilbao’s 13 (and the other five ended in a draw). Madrid has also won the last four.
Take Atletico to win away from home.
(Photo credit: Jan S0L0 (flickr) “Chut de Cristiano Ronaldo” [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode]. Photo has been cropped.)
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
