Real Madrid have a tough midweek assignment in La Liga as they take on Athletic Club at San Mames.
Despite failing to hit top gear, Carlo 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 heading into this round of fixtures.
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 Barca in El Clasico.
Ernesto Valverde's Athletic Club sit fourth in La Liga 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 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.
Here is 90min's guide to Real Madrid's upcoming La Liga clash.
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
Athletic Club Real Madrid
Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Athletic Club - 01/12/24 Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe - 01/12/24
Athletic Club 3-0 Elfsborg - 28/11/24 Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid - 27/11/24
Athletic Club 1-0 Real Sociedad - 24/11/24 Leganes 0-3 Real Madrid - 24/11/24
Real Valladolid 1-1 Athletic Club - 10/11/24 Real Madrid 4-0 Osasuna - 09/11/24
Ludogorets 1-2 Athletic Club - 07/11/24 Real Madrid 1-3 Milan - 05/11/24
Country TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports Player, LaLigaTV
United States fuboTV, ESPN App, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
Canada TSN+
Unai Simon
Unai Simon is back in action but he hasn't regained his number one spot straight away / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages
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 Madrid (4-2-3-1): Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Alvarez, Berchiche; Ruiz de Galarreta, Prados; I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams; Djalo
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham picked up an injury on Sunday / Florencia Tan Jun/GettyImages
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.
Madrid predicted lineup vs Athletic Club (4-3-1-2): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Guler; Rodrygo, Mbappe.
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.
Prediction: Athletic Club 1-1 Real Madrid
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