Real Madrid vs Athletic Club: match preview

Real Madrid will hope to take another big step towards their La Liga title ambitions as they host a resilient Athletic Club side. The Santiago Bernabeu will see this match played out on Sunday, with the hosts leading the title race by a mile.

Real Madrid, the current leaders of La Liga, have been in exceptional form this season, showcasing their dominance with twenty-two wins, six draws, and only one defeat in their 29 matches.

Los Blancos are at the top of the standings with 72 points and have a five-point lead over FC Barcelona, after the latter got a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas.

Athletic Club, on the other hand, are fourth in the standings with 56 points, but they have Atletico Madrid hot on their heels, just a point behind.

While Real Madrid have the distraction of an upcoming Champions League match against Manchester City, the Lions have Mallorca awaiting them in the Copa Del Rey Final.

The Galacticos’ impressive run of results includes recent victories over Celta Vigo and Osasuna, where they displayed their attacking finesse by netting eight goals.

Conversely, Athletic Bilbao, under Ernesto Valverde’s guidance, have also enjoyed a successful campaign. The Basque team has been consistent, winning against challenging opposition and holding onto their Champions League qualifying spots.

Gorka Guruzeta’s recent brace against Alaves shows Athletic’s attacking threat, supported by players like Inaki Williams and Nico Williams. Athletic has performed admirably at home, but they have struggled at away fixtures, winning just one of their previous five games.

Head-to-head history favors Real Madrid, who have dominated their recent encounters with Athletic, including a 2-0 victory in their previous meeting. However, Athletic managed to hold Real Madrid to a draw at Bernabéu last season, demonstrating their ability to play against the best clubs in the league.

In terms of team selection, Real Madrid will be without Vinicius Junior, who is suspended, and they will also miss Camavinga’s creativity and versatility. Camavinga picked up an ankle injury during the international break, adding to the team’s challenges.

Things are also not entirely rosy for Los Leones, who will miss the services of Paredes, Herrera, and Nico Williams and have to rely on Guruzeta’s goal-scoring form as well as the inventiveness of Inaki Williams.