Athletic Club vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Real Madrid face a crucial test in their La Liga title chase as they travel to the Basque Country to take on Athletic Club at the Estadio de San Mamés on Wednesday.

After a frustrating series of draws in November, Xabi Alonso’s side will be desperate to return to winning ways and reignite their push for silverware, with Barcelona holding a four-point advantage at the summit, having played a game more.

Athletic Club vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news

Athletic Club team news

Athletic Club will be without several key players for this crucial encounter. Captain Iñaki Williams remains sidelined with a groin injury that has kept him out of action for several weeks. The creative midfielder Oihan Sancet has also been ruled out after receiving a two-match suspension following his red card incident at Camp Nou against Barcelona, where his tackle on Fermin Lopez was deemed excessively violent by the competition committee.

In addition to these absences, Athletic will miss the services of defender Benat Prados and Eguiluz due to cruciate ligament injuries. However, there is some positive news as defender Aymeric Laporte is expected to return after missing the recent clash against Levante due to illness, though he will be assessed closer to kickoff.

Real Madrid team news

Real Madrid’s defensive resources have been significantly depleted as they prepare for their trip to Bilbao. Captain and key defender Dani Carvajal will miss the match after undergoing knee surgery that has ruled him out until 2026. Centre-back Dean Huijsen is also a significant doubt after missing the past two matches with muscle discomfort and has not yet returned to full training with the squad.

On the positive front, defender Raúl Asencio is expected to be available after recovering from gastroenteritis that forced him to miss the recent 1-1 draw against Girona. The centre-back participated in part of Monday’s training session and looks set to be included in the squad for the Basque clash.

Defenders Eder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger both returned to action against Girona, with both starting in the 1-1 stalemate. Their availability will be crucial for Alonso’s defensive setup against Athletic’s dangerous attacking threat.

Form

Athletic Club

Athletic enjoyed an impressive 2-0 victory away at Levante over the weekend, with goals from Robert Navarro in the third minute and Nico Williams’ well-taken finish before the break securing a commanding performance.

The team has shown improved form recently, particularly at home at San Mamés. However, Athletic’s overall league position of eighth with 20 points from 14 matches reflects inconsistency in their campaign.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s form has been deeply concerning, with the team now enduring three consecutive draws in La Liga.

Their most recent outing saw them held to a 1-1 stalemate away at Girona, where they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities despite Kylian Mbappé’s equalising penalty in the 67th minute.

Predicted lineups

Athletic Bilbao: Simon; Gorosabel, Laporte, Vivian, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; Berenguer, Sanchez, N Williams; Gomez

Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras; Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni; Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius

How to watch Athletic Club vs Real Madrid?

In the UK, Athletic Club vs Real Madrid will be shown live on Premier Sports 2. You can also stream the match online via the Premier Sports Player in the UK.

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