The pick of the fixtures in game week 30 of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign will take place at Bernabeu on Sunday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming Athletic Bilbao for an intriguing affair.
The home side are top of the table, eight points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, while Athletic occupy fourth position, one point clear of fifth-placed Atletico Madrid in the battle for Champions League football.
Match preview
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Real Madrid have been the standout team in La Liga this season, boasting a record of 22 wins, six draws and one defeat from their 29 matches to collect 72 points, which has left them comfortably top of the table.
Los Blancos are eight points ahead of second-placed Barcelona and 10 clear of third-placed Girona with nine games left, and it would be a huge surprise to see them relinquish control of first position at this stage, but their focus will also be on the Champions League.
Indeed, Carlo Ancelotti's side will take on European champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the competition, with the first leg taking place at Bernabeu on April 9.
Real Madrid entered the international break off the back of successive league wins over Celta Vigo and Osasuna, scoring eight times in the process, and they have been impressive at Bernabeu in Spain's top flight this term, picking up 38 points from 14 matches, recording 12 wins in the process.
Los Blancos may only be five points ahead of second-placed Barcelona by the time that they take to the field for this contest, and the two giants of Spanish football will lock horns in La Liga on April 21.
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Athletic, meanwhile, beat Alaves 2-0 before the international break, with Gorka Guruzeta coming up with a brace for the Basque outfit, who are currently in a Champions League spot in the La Liga table.
Indeed, Ernesto Valverde's side have won 16, drawn eight and lost five of their 29 league games this season to collect 56 points, which has left them in fourth spot, one point ahead of fifth-placed Atletico.
Athletic have not finished fourth in Spain's top flight for 10 years, but they are on course to qualify for the 2024-25 Champions League, while the club are also chasing major silverware this season, preparing to take on Mallorca in the Copa del Rey final next weekend.
The Lions have picked up 20 points from their 14 away league matches this season, which is the fifth-best record in the division, but they have incredibly not managed to overcome Real Madrid in Spain's top flight since March 2015.
Athletic did hold Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the corresponding game at Bernabeu last season, but the team at the top of the division were 2-0 winners when they headed to San Mames on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign.
Team News
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Real Madrid will be without the services of key forward Vinicius Junior on Sunday, with the Brazilian suspended due to the milestone booking that he picked up against Osasuna before the international break.
Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba are out with knee injuries, but Eder Militao is back in the squad, having recovered from the ACL problem that he suffered against Athletic back in August.
Eduardo Camavinga had been a major doubt due to the ankle injury that he picked up while representing France earlier this week, but he is in the squad alongside Dani Ceballos, who has recovered from a calf issue.
Brahim Diaz is expected to be the player to benefit from Vinicius's absence, with the 24-year-old likely to feature alongside Rodrygo in the final third, while Nacho should return in the middle of the defence.
As for Athletic, Yuri Berchiche is out with a hamstring problem, while Aitor Paredes, Ander Herrera and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta face late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Dani Vivian, fresh from making his debut for Spain during the international break, will line up in the middle of the defence, while Dani Garcia is in line to come into the midfield.
Guruzeta will lead the line following his brace against Alaves, while there will again be starts for Inaki Williams and Nico Williams in the wide areas, with both players enjoying excellent campaigns.
Oihan Sancet was an unused substitute last time out but is pushing to return to the XI on Sunday.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos; Bellingham; Brahim, Rodrygo
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; De Marcos, Vivian, Yeray, Lekue; Benat, D Garcia; I Williams, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta
We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
This has all of the makings of a fascinating match, and Athletic are more than capable of securing a positive result on Sunday evening. We were close to backing a draw here considering Vinicius's absence, but Bellingham's return is huge for Real Madrid, and we can see the hosts shading this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
