Athletic Club vs Real Madrid: Match Preview & predictions
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid: Match Preview & predictions. Carlo Ancelotti and his Real Madrid side have a tough midweek assignment in La Liga as they take on Athletic Club at San Mames.
Despite failing to hit top gear, Ancelotti’s side have suddenly taken control of the title race after winning their previous three domestic outings.
Victories over Osasuna, Leganes and Getafe have arrived amid a Barcelona lapse, with Madrid now just four points behind the league leaders having played two games fewer.
Defeat to Liverpool at Anfield depicted Madrid’s current vulnerabilities when paired up against the very best, and Wednesday’s bout will be their biggest domestic challenge since they were battered by Barcelona in El Clasico.
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club sit fourth in La Liga summit ahead of Madrid’s visit.
The Basque Country outfit have benefitted from retaining their key assets over the summer, and they’ll aim to push for a top-four berth this season. Athletic Club were beaten by Barcelona and Atletico Madrid during the first few weeks of the campaign, but Valverde’s side are currently enjoying a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Take a look at our guide to Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga clash below.
What time does Athletic Club vs Real Madrid kick-off?
Location: Bilbao, Spain
Stadium: San Mames
Date: Wednesday 4 December
Kick-off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez
VAR: Jorge Figueroa Vazquez
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Athletic Club: 1 win
Real Madrid: 3 wins
Draws: 1
Last meeting: Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Club (31 March 2024) – La Liga
Athletic Club team news:
Unai Simon has barely featured for Athletic this season after he underwent wrist surgery following Spain’s Euro 2024 success in the summer.
Julen Agirrezabala has deputised for Simon for much of 2024/25 thus far, and Valverde must decide between the two goalkeepers on Wednesday. Simon returned to the fold last Thursday for Athletic’s Europa League triumph over Elfsborg.
Benat Prados is available again after serving a one-match ban, while veteran full-back Oscar de Marcos and Spanish international Dani Vivian are poised to return to Valverde’s backline.
Former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera misses out due to a hamstring injury.
Athletic Club predicted lineup vs Real Madrid
Athletic Club (4-2-3-1): Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams; Djalo
Real Madrid team news:
The visitors are still without several big names for Wednesday’s clash, but there’s hope Jude Bellingham will be fit to start despite the England international sustaining an injury against Getafe which forced him off at half-time.
Aurelien Tchouameni has been out of action since the November international break, but the Frenchman is poised to return to Ancelotti’s matchday squad in Bilbao.
La Liga’s reigning Player of the Month Vinicius Junior remains sidelined along with Eduardo Camavinga, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Athletic Club
Madrid (4-3-1-2): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Guler; Rodrygo, Mbappe.
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid score prediction:
Madrid’s three successive La Liga victories are a step in the right direction, but their issues are yet to cease. They’re improving but still flawed, and the absence of key names will hurt them on Wednesday in a tough away environment.
Athletic were beaten by Barca and Atletico right at the very start of the season, but they’ve come into form in recent weeks. They’re a pragmatic outfit that won’t blow teams away, but the hosts doubtlessly have enough to exploit the persistently frail defensive structure they’ll face up against on Wednesday.
Athletic seemingly have a penchant for drawing this term, and they could add another to their haul here.
