Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club time, odds, lines: 2023 La Liga picks ...
The post-Karim Benzema era at Real Madrid begins on Saturday when Los Blancos face Athletic Club at San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain. The former Ballon d'Or winner and UEFA Men's Player of the Year spent 14 seasons in Madrid, scoring 238 La Liga goals and helping Los Blancos to four La Liga titles and five Champions League titles. But in June he signed a contract with Al-Ittihad of the Saudi Pro League that will reportedly pay him $107 million a year. In his place, Real Madrid signed Joselu on loan from Espanyol this summer.
Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. Los Blancos are the +122 favorites in the latest Real Madrid vs. Athletic odds, with Athletic the +220 underdogs. A draw is priced at +235, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before you lock in your Athletic vs. Real Madrid picks or La Liga predictions, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer insider Jon "Buckets" Eimer has to say.
Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. Since the end of last year's World Cup he has been red-hot, going 167-149-8 for a profit of $2,787 for $100 bettors.
Now, Eimer has broken down Real Madrid vs. Athletic from every angle and just revealed his picks and La Liga predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Eimer's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Athletic vs. Real Madrid:
Real Madrid vs. Athletic money line: Real Madrid +122, Athletic +220, Draw +235Real Madrid vs. Athletic over/under: 2.5 goalsReal Madrid vs. Athletic spread: Real Madrid -0.5 (+110), Athletic +0.5 (-140)RMA: Vinicius Junior ranked second in La Liga in assists (nine) last seasonATH: Iñaki Williams and Oihan Sancet led team in goals (10) last seasonReal Madrid vs. Athletic picks: See picks at SportsLineWhy you should back Real MadridMuch-heralded signing Jude Bellingham is coming off an impressive preseason. Signed for $113 million in a transfer from Borussia Dortmund, the 20-year-old midfielder displayed the calmness of a player twice his age when lobbing a goal over Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana during Los Blancos' U.S. tour. In the locker room, he reportedly also has quickly gained the respect of his teammates.
In addition, Real Madrid's defense is mostly unchanged from last season. With the exception of Thibaut Courtois, who is out with a torn ACL, Los Blancos will have David Alaba and Eder Militao at centerback and Dani Carvajal at right back. Fran Garcia, a 23-year-old who has returned to the club after playing two seasons at Rayo Vallecano, is likely to start at left back while Ferland Mendy continues to recover from injury. See picks at SportsLine.
Why you should back Athletic ClubLos Leones face a Real Madrid side that will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Widely considered one of the best goalkeepers -- if not the best goalkeeper -- in the world, Courtois suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, which will require surgery, the club announced on Thursday. His absence leaves the team with Andriy Lunin, a 24-year-old from Ukraine, as its top goalkeeping option.
In addition, Athletic face a Los Blancos team that did not play well in its last two preseason matches. During their U.S. tour on July 29, Real Madrid were shut out, 3-0, by rival Barcelona. On Aug. 2 Los Blancos lost, 3-1, to Juventus. See picks at SportsLine.
How to make Real Madrid vs. Athletic picksEimer has broken down the La Liga match from every angle and is leaning Over on the goal total. He also has locked in two confident best bets, including one that pays plus-money, while also offering a full breakdown of this matchup. You can see his La Liga picks and analysis only at SportsLine.
Who wins Real Madrid vs. Athletic, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for the Athletic vs. Real Madrid match, all from the soccer expert who is up almost 28 units on his soccer picks in 2023, and find out.
