Real Madrid will face Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday in a match that seems like a perfect opportunity for Los Blancos to continue their winning run in La Liga. Nevertheless, the Basques have not won at the Madridistas stadium in the last nine years.
The last time Athletic managed to take all three points from the Bernabeu was on February 19th 2005, when they earned a 0-2 victory thanks to Asier del Horno and Andoni Iraola’s goals. The right-back still plays in the Basque team, while the only player who remains at Real from that game is Iker Casillas.
From that victory in 2005, all Athletic Bilbao’s visits to the old Chamartin have turned into a nightmare. Madrid have won all nine clashes against Los Rojiblancos when playing home. Furthermore, they’ve usually trashed their rival, scoring a total 33 goals and conceding only nine. Statistics show that Los Merengues score an average of three goals when they host Athletic.
The most repeated result when Real and Athletic have met at the Bernabeu in the last few years is 5-1. That has happened in three occasions: twice in 2010 and again in 2012. That’s why the Madridistas should be optimistic on the forthcoming game against Los Leones. History is on their side.
