As Real Madrid look to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table, they couldn’t really have asked for a better fixture before their Champions League exertions.
Athletic Club have genuine aspirations of getting themselves back into Europe this season, but they really do need to turn a corner in order to be in with a chance of seeing that come to reality.
Since Ernesto Valverde left San Mames, Athletic have often looked like a ship without a rudder.
Capable of the occasion five-star performance, Eduardo Berizzo has to ensure that there is much more consistency in his side’s play.
Julen Lopetegui has quickly banished memories of Zinedine Zidane and has taken the helm at Real with consummate ease. All of his players are responding to his methods, and he will be expecting another easy three points this weekend.
Goals galore
Though the last two fixtures have seen a couple of draws, at least three goals are generally scored in this fixture, and more often than not, the lion’s share come from Real Madrid.
Athletic have only beaten Los Blancos at the San Mames once in the last eight years, with Real often departing Bilbao with a clean sheet to add to however many strikes pepper the goals-for column.
Having already been breached by Leganes and Huesca in both of their games so far in this, their debut La Primera season, Athletic have clear weaknesses.
Real will be licking their lips.
Bale will be brilliant in Bilbao
Since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid, both Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale look like they have a new lease of life.
Bale in particular has seen the weight of the world disappear from his shoulders. No more late substitute appearances or not being selected at all.
The Welshman, in a rich vein of personal form, is Lopetegui’s main man at the moment, and he’s paying the new coach in goals and top-quality performances.
His pace down either flank will be Real’s biggest weapon and Athletic’s major concern.
Berizzo can’t go gung-ho
If there’s one thing that characterises an Eduardo Berizzo team, it’s always playing on the front foot.
The former Celta and Sevilla man likes his teams to play attacking, expansive football, and he won’t change his philosophy for anyone.
However, to try and maintain a ‘gung-ho’ approach against the joint leaders wouldn’t be the wisest move Berizzo will ever have made.
A backs-against-the-wall, five-in-midfield set up, will serve him well at San Mames.
