Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction

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04 August 2023

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction

The preseason comes to a close for both Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao in Dublin this Sunday. The coaches and even most of the players will probably be looking ahead, meaning defensive effort will be at a bare minimum, per our soccer betting picks.

We have an exciting clash between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, with the two teams meeting at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Irish supporters will be thrilled to see their beloved Manchester United in town, and Athletic Bilbao will be a stern test for Erik ten Hag’s team.

This is Man Utd’s last preseason game before the Premier League season kicks off, and they’ll look to finish on a high and take that positivity into the new campaign. Don’t miss our Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao free picks and predictions for August 6.

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao best odds

Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao picks and predictions

This Sunday sees the final preseason games for both Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao as they meet at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Man U have had a long relationship with Ireland that stems back generations. Because of that relationship there are a huge amount of Man United fans in Ireland, meaning that Saturday’s game will feel as much like a home game as it would if it were held at Old Trafford.

The reality we need to consider is that both teams will be starting their domestic campaigns the following weekend, and while both managers will want to get their players some more fitness, it’s equally important, if not more so, that both teams come back without injuries. The threat of big injuries always hangs over preseason games, and on the cusp on the new season, it’s highly likely that we see some rotation from Erik ten Hag and Ernesto Valverde.

One man we are unlikely to see is Rasmus Hojlund. At the time of writing, the Danish striker’s move to Manchester United hasn’t yet been confirmed by the club, but it’s expected that it will be before kick-off. That leaves a tantalizing prospect that the Dane could debut for the club in this game, I would doubt that happening, but there’s a sliver of a chance.

Neither team has been exceptional in preseason. United won their first three preseason games, but since then they’ve suffered three defeats, and Ten Hag will be keen to ensure his team don’t start this Premier League season as badly as they did last year. Athletic Bilbao haven’t been great either, picking up just the one win in six matches so far.

Despite struggles for both teams, it’s noticeable that they have generally found the back in the majority of their preseason games so far, which leads me to my best bet.

We know all about the goalscoring potential of Man United, and I’d expect them to be able to find the back of net, even though we don’t know exactly who’ll play because of Saturday’s friendly against Lens. On the flip side of that, we know Bilbao should have both Williams brothers starting, who’ll cause issues for United’s backline.

With the new season looming over the horizon, it’s a fair assumption that we’re going to see plenty of rotation and substitutions. When combined with the talent in both teams, that should mean plenty of scoring opportunities vs. leaky defenses.

My best bet: Both Teams to Score (-134 at FanDuel)

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Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao Same Game Parlay

Both Teams to Score

Over 3.5

A Goal Scored in Both Halves

We don’t have a wide variety of markets available for a Same Game Parlay on this fixture. This is down to the uncertainty around the starting lineups of each team. That means we’ll have to keep it simple, but there’s value to be had still.

Firstly we’re going for Both Teams to Score. You’ve read all about it above, but both teams have suspect defenses and plenty of attacking. Combine that with mangers who’ll be looking to make changes and protect key players and we could be set for a disjointed match, which will give both teams a chance to score.

That same methodology also applies to the second leg of the SGP, which is Over 3.5 goals. Athletic Bilbao have plenty of pace and guile in their attack, and against a Man United backline featuring the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, that could cause issues.

Then to wrap up the Same Game Parlay, we’re going for at least one goal to be scored in both halves. Put simply, I’m expecting plenty of attacking action in this one, and with players keeping one eye on next week’s game, it should be a breeding ground for an early goal.

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Manchester United vs Athletic Bilbao side & Over/Under analysis

You can get -145 on Man United winning this one, and I simply can’t get on board when we don’t know how much Ten Hag will rotate his team. The +350 available on Athletic Bilbao is far more attractive in that regard, and given scorelines against Real Madrid and Dortmund this preseason, it wouldn’t be a shock if United were to lose.

The Total Goals line of 2.5 sits at odds of -138 for the Over and +107 for the Under. I think the Over will land, but at -138 for that, I’d rather just grab the -134 on offer for Both Teams to Score instead, given that my reasoning for both is nearly identical.