Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao - Match Preview
Although there are still many games to be played before Real versus Barcelona match but the focus is starting to fall upon El Classico. Last week, a Madrid player started the war of words but Real Madrid cannot allow their focus to stray
before Athletic Bilbao.
Los Blancos are buoyant at present. After a difficult start to the season in front of goal, they’ve now recorded six consecutive victories in La Liga and have already qualified for the next round of Champions League. But seasons are not determined successful
on the basis of a strong autumn; this must simply be the foundation for greater things.
The previous weekend, Real Madrid managed a close win over Sporting di Gejon in a crucial away fixture and thanks to Gonzalo Higuain for the dying minute goal which earned Madrid much needed three points and kept them ahead of their fierce rivals, Barcelona.
Mourinho has an outstanding record of 140 league games unbeaten at home and so far Real Madrid have played eight match at Santiago Bernabeu and did not lose a single one. Since the arrival of ‘The Special One’, Bernabeu has become a fortress and it is always
hard for visiting teams to get all three points from them.
Without a doubt, every team that travels to the Real Madrid dreams to be the one to upset Los Blancos and Basque outfit are certainly the team which has got all the skills to claim three points. History has dictated that the proud Athletic Bilbao is especially
keen to upset Real Madrid.
Athletic Bilbao’s record in this season is fairly self-effacing, though it has been good enough to lift them into the top half of the table. However, Athletic Bilbao has played eleven La Liga matches so far in which they managed five victories and five defeats
along with a draw. There’s been no shortage of goals either, having not been shut out all season to date.
Los Leones managed only one tally in last weekend’s encounter, though that proved to be enough in a game in which they would finish with only nine players. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish talismanic striker, Fernando Llorente, was only Los Leones player who manage
to get his name on the score sheet, though Bilbao coach Joaquin had praise for his team as a whole after the fixture.
“You have to tip your hat to the public and also the efforts of the players, who have given everything,” he said. “We have played many minutes with two less players and have not gotten a single goal. The important thing is the three points and the
unity of the group. We have faced opposition from the referee but the players tripled their efforts.”
Such toil will be required if Athletic Bilbao are to win against the odds, having lost by five goals last season at Santiago Bernabeu.
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