"Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid will lock horns with each other in La Liga this week. The match between Ernesto Valverde's side and Xabi Alonso's team will be held at Estadio San Mames and is scheduled to kick off at 6pm UK time on Tuesday. Athletic Bilbao are one of the biggest and most historic clubs in Spain who regularly challenge for the top four in the La Liga table."
"While the Basque giants do not tend to challenge for the championship, they try to end up in major European Competitions. Bilbao finished fifth in the La Liga table in the 2023-24 campaign and ended up fourth in the standings in the 2024-25 campaign. Ernesto Valverde's side, though, are not doing particularly well at the moment. Zuri-Gorriak are eighth in the league table right now with 20 points from 14 matches, as many as 11 points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid."
"Athletic Bilbao are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Real Madrid. Unai Simon will be in goal for the home team. Inigo Lekue, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes and Yuri Berchiche will be the four defenders. Mikel Jauregizar and Alejandro Rego will be the two holding midfielders. Robert Navarro, Alex Berenguer and Nico Williams will be deployed in attacking midfield. Gorka Guruzeta will lead the line for Bilbao."
Prediction: Real Madrid to win 2-1. Athletic Bilbao currently sit eighth with 20 points from 14 matches, 11 points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid. Bilbao finished fifth in 2023-24 and fourth in 2024-25 but are underperforming this season. Athletic arrive after a 2-0 away win at Levante, a goalless draw with Slavia Prague in the Champions League, and a 4-0 league loss to Barcelona. A likely 4-2-3-1 features Unai Simon in goal and Gorka Guruzeta leading the attack. Real Madrid are not in strong form and face questions over Xabi Alonso, yet sit second with 33 points from 14 matches.
Read at Soccer News
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