La Liga preview and odds: Athletic Club vs Atletico Madrid

Published on: 19/04/2016

La Liga preview and odds: Athletic Club vs Atletico Madrid

April 20, 2016 20:45pm - San Mames Barria

La Liga

Athletic Club will continue their chase for a top-four finish on Wednesday, when they welcome title challengers Atletico Madrid to San Mames in La Liga.

Athletic Club still in hunt for top four

Athletic Club look to be on course for a top six finish in La Liga that would guarantee them European football next season. However, the Basque Country side still have an outside chance of snatching fourth spot, and a place in the qualifying stages of next year`s Champions League.

Ernesto Valverde`s men are currently six points behind fourth-ranked Villarreal with just five games left to play. A win on Wednesday could move them to within three points of their rivals should they lose away to Real Madrid.

The team from Bilbao have lost just one of their last eight league games, having won six and drawn the other one. They come in to this game on the back of consecutive 1-0 wins, away to Malaga and at home to Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico back in title race

As Barcelona continue to stumble, the two teams from Madrid continue to win. As a result, Atletico Madrid are level on points with reigning champions Barcelona with their city rivals just a point further back.

Diego Simeone`s men have lost just one of their last 11 league games, having won nine and drawn the other. They come into this game on the back of a 3-0 win at home to relegation-threatened Granada. Away from home, they have won four of their last five including a 3-1 win at Espanyol on their last road trip.

Team news

The home side will be hampered by the absence of several injured players including Inaki Williams, Aduriz, Sabin and Aymeric Laporte.

Meanwhile, the visitors have Matias Kranevitter, Jose Gimenez and Tiago in the treatment room.

Recent form (League)

Athletic Club: WWDLW

Atletico Madrid: WWWLW

Betting odds and tips

With just one defeat in 11 league matches on home soil, Athletic Club must stand a chance in this game. However, they have some key players missing and are facing one of the league most in-form teams.

You can back the Home/Draw Double Chance at 10/11 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 19/04/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (19/04/2016 16:00:05) but are subject to change.