Three successive draws have seen Real Madrid stumble in La Liga’s title race and victory is crucial on Wednesday evening when they visit Athletic Club.
Pressure has been heaped on Xabi Alonso’s shoulders after Madrid’s recent slump, with just one victory from their last five outings in all competitions. League stalemates with Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona have raised concerns and allowed Barcelona to leapfrog Los Blancos at the summit of the division.
With Villarreal and Atlético Madrid also hot on their tail, the record European champions desperately need to end their winless domestic run in Bilbao against an Athletic Club side struggling to rediscover last season’s form. The Basque outfit are currently eighth in La Liga and have won just one of five Champions League matches this term.
Despite their inconsistencies, Athletic will be no pushovers. They won this fixture 2–1 last season and the vociferous Estadio San Mamés crowd will ensure standards don’t drop. Madrid, who are playing their sixth successive away game, will have to rise to the challenge.
Ernesto Valverde is missing a number of players through injury for Madrid’s visit, with Robert Navarro, Unai Eguiluz, Beñat Prados and Maroan Sannadi all sidelined at present. Iñaki Williams is not a guaranteed absentee for Athletic but remains a significant doubt having been absent since the win over Qarabağ in late October.
Oihan Sancet is a major absentee as he continues to serve his suspension following a red card against Barcelona, but Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta will return to the XI having served a one-match ban last time out. Aymeric Laporte will also make his comeback from illness.
Athletic’s hopes hinge on Nico Williams, who scored and dazzled in the victory over Levante last weekend.
Madrid welcomed center back duo Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão back into the lineup for the trip to Girona, the former absent since September and the latter since the November internationals, and the pair appear likely to start again in Bilbao.
Dean Huijsen, David Alaba and Raúl Asencio are all doubts at the back for Alonso, while Dani Carvajal will be missing for the journey to San Mamés. Ferland Mendy has recently added his name to the injury list and he won’t return until 2026.
Álvaro Carreras and Eduardo Camavinga are expected to return to the XI having only been used as substitutes on Sunday, with Fran García and Arda Güler making way.
Franco Mastantuono is available once more having returned to the squad at the weekend, but he was an unused substitute against Girona.
