Spain - Primera Division
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Played
May 2, 2012 9:00 PM BST
Estadio San Mamés — Bilbao
Referee:‬ José Teixeira‎
Attendance:‬ 39500‎
 
 
Gonzalo Higuaín 16′
 
Mesut Özil 20′
 
Cristiano Ronaldo 50′

Athletic Bilbao - Real Madrid Preview: Los Blancos on brink of 32nd La Liga title

Jose Mourinho's side can clinch the Primera Division crown with victory in the hostile surroundings of San Mames, regardless of Barcelona's result against Malaga

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid CF, Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid CF
UEFA Champions League Semi Final, Cristiano Ronaldo; Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid CF v Bayern Muenchen
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATHLETIC BILBAO


Iraizoz
Iraola, Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe
Perez, De Marcos
Susaeta, Muniain, Ibai
Llorente
REAL MADRID


Casillas
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao
Khedira, Alonso
Callejon, Ozil, Ronaldo
Benzema

Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa is set to field his strongest possible XI for Wednesday's visit of Real Madrid, with Javi Martinez, Iker Muniain, Markel Susaeta and Fernando Llorente all returning to the starting line-up.

Midfielders Ander Iturraspe and Ander Herrera are ruled out through suspension, but left-back Jon Aurtenetxe is available after serving a one-match ban.

Real Madrid have reported no new injury concerns and have a fully fit squad for the trip to the Basque Country. Winger Angel Di Maria serves a ban for accumulating five yellow cards, so Jose Callejon may get a rare start.

Fabio Coentrao could replace Marcelo at left-back, while in midfield, Sami Khedira should return in place of Esteban Granero.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Athletic Bilbao have won six of their last nine home matches in La Liga.
  • The Basques have lost nine of their last 10 encounters with Real Madrid.
  • Bilbao face Los Blancos' city-rivals Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final on May 9 in Bucharest.
  • Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 20 league matches (W17, D3).
  • Los Blancos have scored in all but one of their last 48 games - a goalless draw against Valencia on April 8.
  • Should Madrid win, Jose Mourinho (pictured right) will become the first coach in history to have won the domestic championship in four major European leagues (Portugal, England, Italy and Spain).

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Real Madrid CF
    15.96 %
  • Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Real Madrid CF
    10.61 %
  • Athletic Bilbao 1-4 Real Madrid CF
    9.04 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Apr 14, 2013 Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Nov 17, 2012 Real Madrid CF 5 - Athletic Bilbao 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 2, 2012 Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 22, 2012 Real Madrid CF 4 - Athletic Bilbao 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Apr 9, 2011 Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
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Last Five Matches
Athletic Bilbao
May 11, 2013Athletic Bilbao 2 - Mallorca 1LIGA
May 3, 2013Celta 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1LIGA
Apr 27, 2013Athletic Bilbao 2 - FC Barcelona 2LIGA
Apr 21, 2013Deportivo 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1LIGA
Apr 14, 2013Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3LIGA
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Odds
Returns: Bilbao £810.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £660.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Real Madrid £15.71 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
1IraizozGoalkeeper
3Jon Aurtenetxe BordeDefender
6Mikel San José DomínguezDefender
23Borja EkizaDefender
14SusaetaMidfielder
17Íñigo PérezMidfielder
20Javi MartínezMidfielder
10Óscar De MarcosMidfielder
28Ibai GómezStriker
19MuniainStriker
2ToqueroStriker
9Fernando LlorenteStriker
13Raúl Fernández MateosGoalkeeper
15Andoni IraolaDefender
31Jonas Ramalho ChimenoDefender
25KoikiliDefender
-David LópezMidfielder
11Igor GabilondoMidfielder
32GalarretaMidfielder
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
15Fabio CoentraoDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
12MarceloDefender
18Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
8KakáMidfielder
14Esteban GraneroMidfielder
9Karim BenzemaStriker
Players to Watch
Fernando Llorente
Fernando Llorente
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
24 3 1 0
Needing just two more goals to take his season tally to 30, the 27-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal campaign and has played a significant role in Athletic's ascent to two cup finals. The giant striker will relish lining up against the Madrid backline, which has looked a bit fragile in the past couple of games.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
34 34 9 0
The Portuguese forward will be desperate to keep banging in the goals and pip rival Lionel Messi to the 'Pichichi' crown. However, the former Manchester United ace will need to step up his game in the cauldron of San Mames, where Athletic's defensive tactic of ambushing the ball carrier can make possession difficult to hold on to.
Probable Lineups
Iraizoz 1
Jon Aurtenetxe Borde 3
Mikel San José Domínguez 6
Borja Ekiza 23
Susaeta 14
Íñigo Pérez 17
Javi Martínez 20
Óscar De Marcos 10
Ibai Gómez 28
Muniain 19
Toquero 2
Fernando Llorente 9
Iker Casillas 1
Pepe 3
Sergio Ramos 4
Fabio Coentrao 15
Arbeloa 17
Sami Khedira 6
Mesut Özil 10
Xabi Alonso 14
Callejón 21
Cristiano Ronaldo 7
Gonzalo Higuaín 20
Prediction
Athletic will be fired up for this, as they know a victory will keep the pressure on Levante and Atletico Madrid in the race for European qualification. A raucous San Mames awaits the visitors, who refused to host the May 25 Copa del Rey final between Athletic and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu citing building works going on at the time in the stadium, and the champagne may have to stay on ice until the weekend.
Editor's Prediction
Bilbao 2
Real Madrid 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3