Match Preview: Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao

In any other weekend that didn’t contain the first Seville derby for three years, this fixture would have undoubtedly claimed top billing as a buoyant Athletic travel to the capital to take on the league leaders still in a state of shock after another Clásico defeat in midweek.

The repercussions from that defeat remain to be seen, even eventual elimination from the Copa del Rey would be palatable for José Mourinho so long as his side’s moral isn’t sapped on their return to league business. However thankfully one decision resulting from Wednesday’s performance has already been made as Pepe is not expected to feature either against Athletic or Barcelona in midweek.

Mourinho will revert to a more offensive line-up than the trivote in midfield he used against the Catalans on Wednesday. That should mean a recall for Mesut Ozil in the playmaking role and possibly a return for Ángel Di María should he pass a fitness test.

Álvaro Arbeloa will come back in at right-back in place of Hamit Altintop and with Pepe withdrawn, Ricardo Carvalho should continue at centre-back.

In contrast to Real Madrid’s woes in midweek, Athletic took a big step towards the semi-final with a 2-0 win over Mallorca. Marcelo Bielsa’s men have now not conceded in six games and since the return of Fernando Llorente to the starting line-up have scored nine times in their last three.

Moreover, all five of Athletic’s last five goals have come from headers, an area in which Real Madrid have been very poor recently conceding five of their last six from crosses into the box.

Bielsa is expected to make just the one change from the side that started against Mallorca as Jon Aurtenetxe is suspended so Mikel San José could come into the heart of the defence. Iñigo Pérez trained at left back midweek, but Fernando Amorebieta now looks set to go in at left-back.

FACT: Five Athletic players have been sent off in their last six league meetings with the Merengues.

Tags: Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid