The lead is melting away, the league leader has been reeling for weeks and months – and must slowly recover. After their latest slip-up, Atletico Madrid are only one point ahead in the La Liga table. Champions and city rivals Real Madrid are just as close to the Rojiblancos as FC Barcelona, who are two points behind.
Already this weekend Atletico can be rid of their top position if they do not win against Eibar – even if only Real Madrid can pass. Barcelona is not in action in La Liga, the Catalans play the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
After all, on paper the reeling Atletico has a supposedly easy opponent as a guest. Eibar are bottom of the table and it is therefore not surprising that the odds are clearly in favour of the leaders in Atletico Madrid vs Eibar, even though they have been out of form for weeks and months.
For Atletico, the match is therefore an absolute must-win, but the pressure is naturally doubled on coach Diego Simeone’s team not only to get three points, but also to gain self-confidence through a convincing performance.
If not against the last team in the table, then against whom? It is obvious to predict a comfortable home victory for Atletico Madrid against Eibar.
Prediction & Live Odds for Atletico Madrid vs. Eibar 18/04/2021
It is a small crisis duel, even if one would hardly think that possible beforehand in the clash of the top of the table against the bottom. But both clubs are not in good shape at the moment and are waiting for a breakaway.
The fact that Atletico will be missing both strikers Luis Suarez and Joao Felix due to injury does not make things any easier for the struggling Atletico.
In view of the league situation, Eibar need three points just as urgently as Atletico – so stonewalling and waiting will not be on the agenda for Eibar either, the Basques have to take a risk. That will play into Atletico’s hands. Since Eibar is also extremely harmless in attack and Atletico is naturally the big favourite, our prediction for Atletico Madrid against Eibar is: Atletico to win to nil. ✅
Atletico Madrid – Statistics & current form
Atletico feel the breath of the two pursuers on their necks and have a lot of pressure to finally get three points again. The Rojiblancos will be glad that at least Barça is not in league action and thus cannot pass them by, no matter how their own home match against Eibar turns out.
If you only look at the table, you will of course reflexively tend to bet directly on the home side when Atletico Madrid vs. Of course, the situation in the standings means that this is the case when the first team is playing the last, and at home to boot.
In addition, there are odds of 1.44 on average on this bet before the match between Atletico Madrid and Eibar, which is better than you would have thought given the situation in the table.
And yet the relatively interesting odds on Atletico have good reasons: Atletico have only won two of their last eight league games! In the past five games, there was only one victory, during which Atletico also scored just three goals.
Atletico’s attacking problems
Atletico recently dropped points twice in a row in Sevilla: First they lost 1-0 at Sevilla CF on Matchday 29, then they played in the Andalusian city again on Matchday 30, this time at city neighbours Betis – where they only managed a 1-1 draw for coach Diego Simeone’s men. In both games, however, they had good chances late in the game to claim a point or all three points respectively, but missed very good opportunities.
At least this will be a small encouragement for Atleti, who have been stumbling for many match days: The chances were there, the morale is intact. And yet, of course, the form is worrying. Scoring goals is once again a problem for Atletico, which makes it all the more bitter that not only is their top striker Luis Suarez out with a muscle injury, but Joao Felix also suffered an ankle injury against Betis.
So against Eibar, Simeone will have to do without his regular attackers – so you shouldn’t necessarily expect a flurry of goals. It is therefore understandable that the betting odds on the Under 2.5 for Atletico Madrid vs. Eibar are only 1.70 on average.
Projected line-up of Atletico Madrid:
Oblak – Gimenez, Hermoso, Felipe – Trippier, Saul, Koke, Carrasco, Llorente – Correa, Dembélé
Eibar – Statistics & current form
Speaking of struggling to score goals: Of course, this is even more true for SD Eibar. No team in La Liga scores fewer goals than the small club from the Basque country, which has scored just a measly 22 goals in 30 games.
Eibar have failed to score in four of their last six league games and have lost two in a row: a 2-0 defeat at Real Madrid was followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to Levante.
It is no wonder that Eibar have been pushed down to the bottom of the table. On matchday 13, the Basques were still in 11th place, but since then they have been in a steady decline that has taken them to the bottom of the table. Eibar have not won since matchday 17, and coach José Luis Mendilibar’s team has now waited a full 13 games for a victory. Nine of these 13 games were also lost.
Is Eibar also annoying the reeling Atletico?
Eibar should start collecting points again, otherwise it could become very difficult to stay in the league after this weekend. Eibar are already four points behind the relegation zone. In addition, they have the chance to make up ground with three points against Atletico, because the relegation rivals Alaves (19th) and Huesca (16th) play each other on Sunday and take the points away from each other.
It is obvious, however, that Eibar are the clear underdogs in Sunday’s match at the Wanda Metropolitano. But the Basque guests will also be expecting something in view of Atletico’s poor form, it should probably be easier to take something countable away from the Wanda Metropolitano.
However, it is also the duel of the crisis teams, which is why the odds on the draw are also lower than one could have expected in advance.
Predicted line-up of Eibar:
Dmitrovic – Alvarez, Arbilla, Oliveira – Pozo, Diop, Garcia, Angel, Inui – Kike Garcia, Enrich
