Real Madrid-Athletic Club: leaders back in action at Bernabéu

With only nine games to go until the end of the season, the leaders are back in action 15 days after their last fixture, the victory against Osasuna at El Sadar. They return to the competition for a key clash against Athletic Club, who are enjoying a great season having booked their place in the Copa del Rey final and they are currently in fourth place in the table heading into matchday 30 (9pm CET).

This game also marks the start of the five decisive fixtures Real Madrid will face in the two competitions in which they are still battling it out in: LaLiga and the Champions League. The Santiago Bernabéu stadium will play a crucial role, where three of the clashes will be contested (Athletic Club, Manchester City and Barcelona) and the remaining two are away to Mallorca and Manchester City.

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"It's an important game; Athletic are having a great season and are playing with a lot of intensity," said Ancelotti at the pre-match press conference. The Italian coach will be without Vini Jr., due to an accumulation of yellow cards, but will be able to count on Bellingham, who returns to the squad after serving a two-match suspension. The Englishman joins a Real Madrid side that has scored the most (64) and conceded the fewest goals (20) in LaLiga.

The opposition
The good season that Valverde's team is enjoying has been rewarded with the final of the Copa del Rey, which they will play in six days' time against Mallorca at La Cartuja. Athletic Club come to the Bernabéu after four official matches unbeaten (three wins) against Alavés, Las Palmas, Barcelona and Atlético, and without conceding a goal in any of them. Guruzeta is their top scorer this season with 15 goals (13 in LaLiga).