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La Liga Preview: Real Madrid - Athletic Bilbao
Jose Mourinho's side welcome the Basque outfit to Santiago Bernabeu just four days after the Clasico defeat at the hands of Barcelona
By Martin Macdonald
Getty
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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REAL MADRID
 Casillas Arbeloa, Ramos, Carvalho, Coentrao Xabi Alonso, Diarra Callejon, Ozil, Ronaldo Benzema
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ATHLETIC BILBAO  Iraizoz Iraola, Martinez, Amorebieta, San Jose Iturraspe, Ander Susaeta, De Marcos, Muniain Llorente |
Jose Mourinho has a few selection issues going into the game at Santiago Bernabeu. Pepe looks set to miss two weeks of action after picking up a hamstring strain in the Clasico during the week.
There are also some doubts over the fitness of Sami Khedira, who sprained his ankle in the match against Malaga, and Angel Di Maria, who picked up an injury in training.
Alvaro Arbeloa returns from his suspension and should slot in at right-back, while Jose Callejon may be given a chance on the right-hand side with Di Maria out injured.
Athletic have a number of players currently being treated for a variety of problems. Aitor Ocio, Carlos Gurpegi, Xabi Castillo, Igor Martinez, and Igor Gabilondo are all currently undergoing physiotherapy, and all are doubtful.
Fernando Amorebieta has a minor sprain in his left ankle and trained apart from his team-mates during the week, but is likely to be included in the starting XI for this huge match.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The last time Real Madrid played Athletic Bilbao, Jose Mourinho's side came away with a 3-0 away victory at San Mames, with Kaka grabbing a brace and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring to seal the win.
- Iker Casillas will make his 600th appearance for Real Madrid in this match.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored just five goals less than the entire Athletic Bilbao squad so far this season in La Liga. The Portuguese has netted 21 times and the Basque outfit have scored 26 times.
- Athletic Bilbao are currently in fifth place in La Liga on 26 points, just four away from the coveted Champions League positions.
- The Basque side last defeated Real Madrid in January 2010, thanks to an early Fernando Llorente goal which gave them a narrow 1-0 victory.
- Llorente is Athletic's top goalscorer this season with seven goals in 14 appearances.
BARCELONA
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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OSASUNA
 Fernandez Damia, Flano, Sergio, Satrustegui Nekounam, Raul Garcia, Timor Lamah, Ibrahima, Torres |
BARCELONA
Pinto Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Adriano Iniesta, Busquets, Thiago Cuenca, Fabregas, Pedro |
Jose Luis Mendilibar has several injury problems going into the game and will be without Roversio, Kike Sola, Ruben, Jukka Raitala and Ion Echaide, although Raul Garcia could pass a late fitness test to start in midfield.
The home side could give a number of younger players an opportunity, with Roberto Torres and Eneko Satrustegui in line for starts against the Primera Division giants.
With Barcelona holding a commanding lead going into the second leg, Pep Guardiola could use the game to rotate his squad. Jose Manuel Pinto will replace Victor Valdes in goal to resume his usual starting role in Copa del Rey fixtures.
Adriano could start at left-back in place of Eric Abidal with Maxwell apparently close to moving to French club Paris Saint-Germain. Seydou Keita has now joined up with his Malian team-mates for the African Cup of Nations, and Thiago could come into the midfield.
The Catalan club are likely to go into the game with a rotated frontline with the newly crowned Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, in line for a rest. Isaac Cuenca could also start the game after rejoining the Barcelona first squad after a recent spell training with the B team.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Osasuna have never won the Copa del Rey title yet the club were runners-up in 2005, losing to Real Betis 2-1.
- The side from Navarre are currently fifth in La Liga, four points behind Levante who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
- Jose Luis Mendilibar's team have conceded 12 goals against the reigning European and Liga champions this season in only two meetings.
- Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas both grabbed braces to give Barcelona a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the second leg of the tie.
- Despite their loss in last season's Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid, the Catalans are the most successful side in Spanish cup history, with 25 triumphs.
- In three Copa games this season, Guardiola's men have scored 14 goals and are yet to concede.
BARCELONA
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
Jose Luis Mendilibar has several injury problems going into the game and will be without Roversio, Kike Sola, Ruben, Jukka Raitala and Ion Echaide, although Raul Garcia could pass a late fitness test to start in midfield.
The home side could give a number of younger players an opportunity, with Roberto Torres and Eneko Satrustegui in line for starts against the Primera Division giants.
With Barcelona holding a commanding lead going into the second leg, Pep Guardiola could use the game to rotate his squad. Jose Manuel Pinto will replace Victor Valdes in goal to resume his usual starting role in Copa del Rey fixtures.
Adriano could start at left-back in place of Eric Abidal with Maxwell apparently close to moving to French club Paris Saint-Germain. Seydou Keita has now joined up with his Malian team-mates for the African Cup of Nations, and Thiago could come into the midfield.
The Catalan club are likely to go into the game with a rotated frontline with the newly crowned Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, in line for a rest. Isaac Cuenca could also start the game after rejoining the Barcelona first squad after a recent spell training with the B team.
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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OSASUNA
Fernandez Damia, Flano, Sergio, Satrustegui Nekounam, Raul Garcia, Timor Lamah, Ibrahima, Torres |
BARCELONA
Pinto Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Adriano Iniesta, Busquets, Thiago Cuenca, Fabregas, Pedro |
Jose Luis Mendilibar has several injury problems going into the game and will be without Roversio, Kike Sola, Ruben, Jukka Raitala and Ion Echaide, although Raul Garcia could pass a late fitness test to start in midfield.
The home side could give a number of younger players an opportunity, with Roberto Torres and Eneko Satrustegui in line for starts against the Primera Division giants.
With Barcelona holding a commanding lead going into the second leg, Pep Guardiola could use the game to rotate his squad. Jose Manuel Pinto will replace Victor Valdes in goal to resume his usual starting role in Copa del Rey fixtures.
Adriano could start at left-back in place of Eric Abidal with Maxwell apparently close to moving to French club Paris Saint-Germain. Seydou Keita has now joined up with his Malian team-mates for the African Cup of Nations, and Thiago could come into the midfield.
The Catalan club are likely to go into the game with a rotated frontline with the newly crowned Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, in line for a rest. Isaac Cuenca could also start the game after rejoining the Barcelona first squad after a recent spell training with the B team.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Osasuna have never won the Copa del Rey title yet the club were runners-up in 2005, losing to Real Betis 2-1.
- The side from Navarre are currently fifth in La Liga, four points behind Levante who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
- Jose Luis Mendilibar's team have conceded 12 goals against the reigning European and Liga champions this season in only two meetings.
- Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas both grabbed braces to give Barcelona a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the second leg of the tie.
- Despite their loss in last season's Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid, the Catalans are the most successful side in Spanish cup history, with 25 triumphs.
- In three Copa games this season, Guardiola's men have scored 14 goals and are yet to concede.
BARCELONA
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Real Madrid 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
- 12.91 %
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Real Madrid 3-1 Athletic Bilbao
- 11.96 %
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Real Madrid 4-1 Athletic Bilbao
- 10.24 %
| La Liga (LIGA) | 15-Apr-2013 | Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | 18-Nov-2012 | Real Madrid 5 - Athletic Bilbao 1 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | 03-May-2012 | Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | 23-Jan-2012 | Real Madrid 4 - Athletic Bilbao 1 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | 09-Apr-2011 | Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3 |
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Real Madrid
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| 18-May-2013 | Real Madrid 1 - Atletico de Madrid 2 | ESPC |
| 12-May-2013 | Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid 1 | LIGA |
| 09-May-2013 | Real Madrid 6 - Malaga 2 | LIGA |
| 04-May-2013 | Real Madrid 4 - Valladolid 3 | LIGA |
| 01-May-2013 | Real Madrid 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0 | UCL |
Athletic Bilbao
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| 11-May-2013 | Athletic Bilbao 2 - Mallorca 1 | LIGA |
| 04-May-2013 | Celta 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1 | LIGA |
| 27-Apr-2013 | Athletic Bilbao 2 - Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
| 21-Apr-2013 | Deportivo 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1 | LIGA |
| 15-Apr-2013 | Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 3 | LIGA |
| 1 | Iker Casillas | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Sergio Ramos | Defender |
| 12 | Marcelo | Defender |
| 17 | Arbeloa | Defender |
| 19 | Raphaël Varane | Defender |
| 8 | Kaká | Midfielder |
| 10 | Mesut Özil | Midfielder |
| 14 | Xabi Alonso | Midfielder |
| 14 | Esteban Granero | Midfielder |
| 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Striker |
| 9 | Karim Benzema | Striker |
| 13 | Adán | Goalkeeper |
| 15 | Fabio Coentrao | Defender |
| 18 | Raúl Albiol Tortajada | Defender |
| 4 | Hamit Altintop | Midfielder |
| 21 | Callejón | Striker |
| 85 | Lassana Diarra | Midfielder |
| 20 | Gonzalo Higuaín | Striker |
| 1 | Iraizoz | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Amorebieta | Defender |
| 6 | Mikel San José Domínguez | Defender |
| 15 | Andoni Iraola | Defender |
| 8 | Iturraspe | Midfielder |
| 14 | Susaeta | Midfielder |
| 21 | Ander Herrera | Midfielder |
| 20 | Javi Martínez | Midfielder |
| 9 | Fernando Llorente Torres | Striker |
| 10 | Óscar De Marcos | Midfielder |
| 19 | Muniain | Striker |
| 13 | Raúl Fernández Mateos | Goalkeeper |
| 25 | Koikili | Defender |
| 23 | Borja Ekiza | Defender |
| - | David López | Midfielder |
| 17 | Íñigo Pérez | Midfielder |
| 2 | Toquero | Striker |
| 28 | Ibai Gómez | Striker |
Results
Times In IST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
46 | 4 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
34 | 6 |
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Radamel Falcao Striker Atlético de Madrid |
28 | 8 |
|
Roberto Soldado Striker Valencia |
21 | 5 |
|
Negredo Striker Sevilla |
20 | 3 |