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Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Madrid

Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at San Mames.

Real Madrid will attempt to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to five points when they travel to Basque outfit Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

With Barcelona not in action until Sunday, victory for the league leaders would give them clear breathing space ahead of El Clasico later this month.

Bilbao, however, will enter the match having lost just one of their last six in the league. Ernesto Valverde's side also booked their spot in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday with an impressive 2-0 win at Espanyol in the second leg of their semi-final.

Last time out in the league, Bilbao won 1-0 at Eibar and they have conceded just twice in their last five games in Spain's top flight, with that run of form moving them into 10th position.

Since losing to Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid have won three of their four matches, but they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal last weekend.

The capital outfit also have the best away record in the league this season - winning 10 of their 13 games and scoring 39 times in the process.

Incredibly, Real Madrid have won 17 of their last 19 league meets with Bilbao - losing just once. In terms of the more recent meetings, Los Blancos beat Bilbao 5-0 in the reverse league match earlier this season.

Bilbao boss Valverde has no fresh injury worries ahead of the match, with Ander Iturraspe their only major absentee. Markel Susaeta and Benat, however, should both return to the XI after sitting out Wednesday's match at Espanyol.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are still without the services of Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez and Luka Modric. As a result, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to stick with the same team that drew with Villarreal last time out.

Bilbao:

Form in La Liga: DWLDWW
Form in all competitions: DDWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Iraizoz; Iraola, Laporte, Gurpegi, Balenziaga; Rico, Benat; De Marcos, Susaeta, Muniain; Aduriz

Real Madrid:

Form in La Liga: WWLWWD
Form in all competitions: WLWWWD

Possible starting lineup: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Silva, Isco, Kroos; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale

Sports Mole says: 1-3


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Matt Law
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Athletic Bilbao's forward Aritz Aduriz celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Athletic Club Bilbao vs Sevilla FC at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on November 2, 2014
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid22154350212949
2Atletico MadridAtletico22146237142348
3Barcelona21133559243542
4Athletic Bilbao21117331181340
5Villarreal22107544331137
6Rayo Vallecano228862624232
7Mallorca2293101928-930
8GironaGirona218492929028
9Real Sociedad218491717028
10Real BetisBetis217772326-328
11Sevilla227782430-628
12Osasuna216962530-527
13Celta Vigo2174103033-325
14Getafe225981717024
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2165102634-823
16Leganes225891930-1123
17Espanyol2265112133-1223
18AlavesAlaves2156102533-821
19Valencia2137112036-1616
20Real ValladolidValladolid2243151547-3215


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