La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao

Posted on | February 11, 2008 | No Comments

Both teams in this match got important wins at the weekend. Atlético Madrid traveled to Racing de Santander and had an exceptional match, winning it by two goals to nil. Before the game the outcome was very much against Atlético, as they had had some very poor results and Racing are having an historic season, especially at home. However, Diego Forlan put two away to earn his team three vital points which allowed his team to get back into the Champions league spot. They are now fourth in the league and their season seems to have kick started again owing to the results going their way of the other clubs around them. The two Forlan goals ended his eight match duck and was the first time he had scored twice in one game wearing an Atlético shirt. They now have to face Bolton in the first leg of the UEFA cup and really needed this victory to bring morale back up.
Athletic Bilbao meanwhile were also victorious but at the other end of the league. They defeated Levante at home in a tense game that had Athletic begging for the final whistle. They got the three points thanks to a Fernando Llorente header at the start of the second half, but Levante were allowed back into the game by a weak Athletic defense and the visitors were unlucky not to equalize at the very least. The win gives Athletic Bilbao a bit of a breather in the league, but they shouldn’t relax just yet. Now they are two points above the relegation zone in fourteenth, but they are well aware that a defeat against Atlético here at the Calderon stadium will put them right back into the survival fight.
Athletic Bilbao still haven’t been able to string two wins together in the league this season, and everything points to them losing here. You would have to go back to the 1999/00 season to find their last league victory against Atlético Madrid in the Calderon stadium, and I think that statistic will remain the same for at least another year.
Sergio Agüero played most of the match at the weekend and seems certain to start the game against Bolton in midweek. I’m going for a comfortable home win here, depending of course on any injuries that Atlético might pick up during the UEFA cup match.
Prediction: Home win (2-0)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Recreativo de Huelva
2. La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
3. La Liga: Athletico Madrid vs. Betis
4. La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Barcelona
5. La Liga: Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid

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