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Played
November 17, 2012 9:00 PM GMT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ José Teixeira‎
Attendance:‬ 76000‎
 
12′ (OG) Jon Aurtenetxe Borde
Ibai Gómez 42′
30′ Sergio Ramos
 
32′ Karim Benzema
 
56′ Mesut Özil
 
72′ Sami Khedira
 

Real Madrid - Athletic Bilbao Preview: Los Merengues look to maintain winning run

Jose Mourinho's side have won their last four Liga matches and will try to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona when they entertain the Basques at the Bernabeu on Saturday

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid CF vs Athletic Bilbao
Morata goal - Levante v Real Madrid
Getty
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID

Casillas
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao
Khedira, Alonso
Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo
Benzema
ATHLETIC BILBAO

Iraizoz
Iraola, San Jose, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe
Gurpegui, Iturraspe
Susaeta, Muniain, Gomez
Aduriz

Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil are fit for the visit of Athletic Bilbao after recovering from knocks suffered at Levante last weekend.

Sami Khedira (thigh) and Karim Benzema (groin) have returned to training and will be available for Saturday's clash, but Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo are still sidelined.

Athletic will be without the services of midfield pair Ander Herrera and Oscar de Marcos, who are both suspended.

Inigo Perez and Borja Ekiza are major doubts with ankle problems, while Fernando Amorebieta could miss out after picking up a knock while on international duty with Venezuela.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Real Madrid have won six of their last seven matches in La Liga.
  • With just eight goals conceded, the Castilian giants have the tightest defence in the Primera Division this campaign.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured, right) increased his Liga goal tally to 124 against Levante, surpassing Emilio Butragueno's record for Madrid. However, he still has someway to go to catch all-time club top scorer Raul (228 goals).
  • Athletic Bilbao have won just one of their last 13 away matches in all competitions (W1, D3, L9).
  • The Basque outfit have lost their last five Liga encounters with Real Madrid.
  • Athletic's last Liga victory over Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu was a 2-0 success in February 2005.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Real Madrid CF 4-0 Athletic Bilbao
    15.52 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-1 Athletic Bilbao
    12.96 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
    8.88 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Apr 14, 2013 Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Nov 17, 2012 Real Madrid CF 5 - Athletic Bilbao 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ May 2, 2012 Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Jan 22, 2012 Real Madrid CF 4 - Athletic Bilbao 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ Apr 9, 2011 Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid CF 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Real Madrid CF
Jun 1, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Osasuna 2LIGA
May 26, 2013Real Sociedad 3 - Real Madrid CF 3LIGA
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
Athletic Bilbao
Jun 1, 2013Rayo Vallecano 2 - Athletic Bilbao 2LIGA
May 26, 2013Athletic Bilbao 0 - Levante 1LIGA
May 19, 2013Zaragoza 1 - Athletic Bilbao 2LIGA
May 11, 2013Athletic Bilbao 2 - Mallorca 1LIGA
May 3, 2013Celta 1 - Athletic Bilbao 1LIGA
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £11.67 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £340.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Bilbao £670.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
3PepeDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
15Fabio CoentraoDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
21CallejónStriker
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
18Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
27NachoDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
8KakáMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
26MorataStriker
1IraizozGoalkeeper
3Jon Aurtenetxe BordeDefender
6Mikel San José DomínguezDefender
15Andoni IraolaDefender
23Borja EkizaDefender
8IturraspeMidfielder
14SusaetaMidfielder
18Carlos GurpeguiMidfielder
28Ibai GómezStriker
19MuniainStriker
23Aritz Aduriz ZubeldiaStriker
13Raúl Fernández MateosGoalkeeper
22Xabi CastilloDefender
31Jonas Ramalho ChimenoDefender
26Igor Martínez CaserasMidfielder
2ToqueroStriker
19Fernando LlorenteStriker
-Ismael LópezStriker
Players to Watch
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
30 11 0 0
The gifted Frenchman has been in the shadow of Gonzalo Higuain this season and recently voiced his unhappiness over the lack of playing time at the Bernabeu. With the Argentine sitting out Saturday's clash through injury, Benzema will want to make the most of his opportunity and cement his spot in the starting XI.
Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia
Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 23
Games Goals YC RC
36 14 13 1
With eight goals already in La Liga this term, the 31-year-old is undergoing something of a renaissance at the moment following a couple of largely frustrating seasons at Valencia. Aduriz will be keen to keep up his goalscoring form for Athletic and hope to add to his solitary cap for the national team.
Prediction
Madrid will look to secure a convincing win and build confidence ahead of their trip to Manchester City in the Champions League. Athletic travel to the capital without a couple of key players and may well have damage limitation on their minds.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 2
Bilbao 0
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
 28 8
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		25 4
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		24 5

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