Preview: Real Madrid v Bilbao

Real Madrid will host Athletic Club Bilbao in the Matchday 34 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, 27th April 2008. Eyefootball previews the game between the Los Merengues and Los Leones.

Venue: Santiago Bernabéu [80,400]

Referee: Fernández Borbalán

League Standings: Real Madrid[1st-72pts], Athletic [9th-46pts]

Past Meetings: Real Madrid won the away match by the only goal scored by van Nistelrooy, Matchday 15, at the San Mamés, Bilbao. Real Madrid have won 48 matches of the 76 played between the two teams in La Liga.

Thirty-first title
The Whites will be crowned La Liga Champions if they defeat Athletic, and if Villarreal fail to win. The Madrid giants will relish to take the chances and win their 31st La Liga title sooner by taking the home advantage. Barcelona is out of the equation after they lost the match against Deportivo, and it would not need the El Clasico to be the league decider. Villarreal is more likely to finish second, as they hold a good head-to-head against Barca.

Europe hopes

The Basque side are having a run of great form, scoring goals and playing beautiful football. They still have a chance of qualifying for a spot in European competition next season; with five matches to go, they are just six points away from a berth in the UEFA Cup.

Recent Form

Real Madrid: LWDWW

v Racing (A), 0-2

v Murcia (H), 1-0

v Mallorca (A), 1-1

v Sevilla (H) 3-1

v Valencia (H) 2-3

The league leaders are enjoying a good run with good performance in every match. They have lost only once in the last five matches in the League. The defeat came against Valencia at home, whom Athletic thrashed 5-1 in the San Mamés.

Athletic Club Bilbao: WDWLW

v Valencia (H) 5-1

v Deportivo (A) 0-3

v Espanyol (H) 1-0

v Recreativo (A) 1-1

v Getafe (H) 1-0

They are in great form having lost only once in the last five games, and registering a five goal win over Copa del Rey winners Valencia. But, the fact remains that they managed to win only once in last five away matches.

Injuries and Suspensions

Real Madrid: Van Nistelrooy is still not fit enough to play though he has started training again after the arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle. Metzelder is also out injured and fellow defender, Cannavaro will serve his one-match suspension.

Athletic Club Bilbao: The Lions have a number of players in the injury list including Gorka Iraizoz, Pablo Orbaiz, Inaki Munoz, Yeste and Aitor Ocio. It is not sure if del Horno have fully recovered. Carlos Gurpegi will make a return to full time football after serving a two-year suspension.

Men to watch

Real Madrid: The home match will see the Whites charging forward and so will Guti. He has been the creative genius in the midfield with his killer through balls. Guti has always been in great form in the Bernabeu and he will be the spearhead of attack in the match, along with the rejuvenated Higuain. The Argentine forward has an eye to cross the ball and make effective runs. He has started scoring goals too coming from the bench and looks like a potential threat to the Bilbao defense.

Athletic Club Bilbao: The 23-year old young forward, Llorente has netted eight goals for the Los Leones this season, and looks hungry for more goals. He is consistent and is improving a lot very quickly to be one of the finest in Spain. Susaeta is another player who comes from the Athletic youth team, and have played 26 games in the league till now scoring four goals from midfield. He had scored in his debut match against Barca early in this season showing his potential to match up to the top clubs.

Squads

Real Madrid

Casillas, Dudek, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Heinze, Torres, Diarra, Gago, Robben, Guti, Drenthe, Sneijder, Balboa, Raul, Robinho, Saviola, Baptista, Higuain.

Athletic Club Bilbao

Armando, Aranzubia, Iraola, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, Koikili, Martinez, Susaeta, Gabilondo, Exteberria, Llorente, Garmendia, Aduriz, David Lopez, Exposito, Preito, Murillo.

Final Score Prediction

Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Club Bilbao