Who: Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid
Content: Spanish La Liga
Location: San Mames Stadium, Bilbao, Spain
Date and time: Wednesday 7pm (18:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 15:00 GMT ahead of the live text commentary stream.
Real Madrid will hope to get their title bid back on track against Athletic Bilbao after a series of draws saw rivals Barcelona take pole position in La Liga.
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Madrid were forced to fight back from conceding a goal on Sunday as they were held to a third straight La Liga draw with lowly Girona.
Athletic Bilbao, who are eighth in the division with 20 points after their opening 14 games, secured a 2-0 victory over Levante on Saturday with goals from Robert Navarro and Nico Williams.
Pressure mounts on Real Madrid coach Alonso
The draw with Girona has increased the pressure on Real manager Xabi Alonso, with recent rumors suggesting his future on Madrid’s bench is in doubt.
“We’re getting there, the situation is very even. It’s a long season and we have to keep going,” Alonso told reporters after the match.
“The players reacted well. It wasn’t enough to turn it around, but we were close. We have to be self-critical enough and continue to stick together as we are, wanting to win at home.”
Madrid travel to Bilbao on Wednesday for their fourth consecutive away league match, but the fixture was moved due to the club’s participation in January’s Spanish Super Cup.
“The tables will be fiercely fought and there will be a lot of movement,” Alonso added.
“We need to change this dynamic.”
Madrid’s superstar striker Kylian Mbappé’s goal was canceled out for a moment of handball, but Moroccan international Azzedine Unahi surprised the high-profile visitors on Sunday by scoring the first goal for Girona, firing home from just outside the box.
Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois then made a superb save to deny Vdislav Vanat’s drive wide of goal before Los Blancos could hit back.
After the goal was ruled out for offside, Vinicius Junior was clumsily brought down in the box by Hugo Rincon.
Mbappe smashed the resulting penalty past Paulo Gazzaniga’s dive and into the bottom left corner for his 14th La Liga goal of the season.
“Not the result we wanted at all, but the league is still on and it’s very long,” Mbappe wrote on social media. “We need to change this dynamic and show ourselves as a team.”
Bilbao boosts morale with victory over Levante
Coach Ernesto Valverde admitted Athletic’s win against Levante gave his side a much-needed morale boost after the depressing defeats of recent weeks.
“This game was very important for us in many ways, both in terms of morale and, above all, in terms of gaining confidence even though it wasn’t a very good result,” Valverde said after the match.
However, Valverde warned that “San Mamés will have a tough opponent, so we have a difficult and very exciting week ahead of us,” adding: “We have to accept each game as it comes and fight for victory.”
Williams says club and City ‘mean everything to me’ over transfer rumors
The Athletic winger spoke to GQ Hype about his deep attachment to his boyhood club and the city of Bilbao, after he was once again linked with a move to Barcelona despite extending his contract until 2035.
“Athletics and Bilbao mean everything to me…I grew here as a person and as a player,” said Nico Williams.
“Representing this club and this city has taught me the importance of hard work, humility and family. We all know that Athletic is unique in the world, as our motto says.”
He added: “I have family and loved ones here in Bilbao and I make every decision with them. It’s a dream come true to play alongside my brother in the Champions League.”
direct confrontation
The two clubs have met 248 times, with Real Madrid winning 124, Athletic Club winning 79 and 45 matches ending in a draw.
Athletic won 2-1 at home against Los Blancos with goals from Alex Berenguer and Gorka Grzeta.
With Los Blancos dominating in recent matches, it was Athletic’s first La Liga victory against Real Madrid since their 1-0 win in March 2015.
Athletic Bilbao team news
Athletic will be boosted by the return of midfielder Iñigo Luis de Galarreta from suspension, although Oyhan Sunset remains suspended.
Benat Prados, Unai Eguils, Malone Sanadi and Robert Navarro are all ruled out with injuries, while Inaki Williams remains a big question after missing Athletic’s last seven games with a groin problem.
Defender Aymeric Laporte missed the match against Levante due to illness, but is expected to return for the match against Madrid.
Athletic Bilbao’s expected starting lineup
Simon. Gorosabel, Laporte, Vivian, Berchiche. Luis de Galareta, Yaureguizar. Berengar, Sanchez, Nico Williams. gomez
Real Madrid team news
Madrid’s injury problems are currently focused on their defence.
Centre-back Dean Huyssen is a big doubt after missing the last two games with a muscular problem, while David Alaba is also unlikely to feature as he is recovering from a muscular injury.
Dani Carvajal will be sidelined until 2026 after undergoing surgery for a knee problem.
However, centre-back Raul Asensio missed the game against Girona due to illness, but is expected to recover in time for the game against Bilbao.
Real Madrid’s projected starting lineup
Courtois. Alexander Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras. Camavinga, Valverde, Choameni. Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
