What: Spanish La Liga
Who: Athletic Bilbao (5th; 45 points) vs Real Madrid (2nd; 73 points)
When: Saturday 9th April, 2011, at 17:00 UK time
Where: San Mames, Bilbao, Spain
Europe in Sight
Having dispatched Almeria last Monday, Athletic Bilbao are now one point away from the Champions League qualifying positions. With the league entering its final stages, every point will become a treasured gift for the Basque Lions. Their surge could come to a stop however as they play host to second-placed Real Madrid.
In the match against Almeria, it was the Andalucians who opened the scoring thanks to a sixth-minute Pablo Piatti strike, one that proved to be more than enough for the Basque visitors who replied by putting three past goalkeeper Diego Alves. Speaking after the game, Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros congratulated his team on their fine showing, saying that such hard-fought victories are often the best: “[The three points] help us to be there [in fifth position] because we knew it was against a team that was playing for its life”.
One key element Caparros and the rest of the team will be counting on will be the intimidating stadium that is the San Mames. Real Madrid have had mixed times at the arena, and as such, the crowd could effectively be a twelfth man against the visitors from the south.
Getting Priorities Right
If there is one thing that midweek Champions League football has confirmed, it is that Real Madrid are a different side in Europe than domestically. Four goals at the Santiago Bernabeu against Tottenham Hotspur have all but confirmed the outcome of the tie, making the return leg in London a mere formality.
After wasting any chance of catching Barcelona in La Liga following a home loss to Sporting Gijon, the onus was on Jose Mourinho and his men to turn their attention to the challenge presented by Spurs and try to placate their fans with a win. The home fans’ wait didn’t last too long as Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and the towering Togolese completed his brace in the second half, before Angel di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the rout.
With both feet almost in the Champions League semi-finals, Madrid have now prioritised Europe’s blue ribbon competition over La Liga. That does not mean however that Mourinho will now neglect the domestic calendar, and the Portuguese will be looking to continue his good week with a win against Athletic Bilbao.
Recent form
Athletic Bilbao:
Getafe 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
(14/03; La Liga)
Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Villarreal
(20/03; La Liga)
Almeria 1-3 Athletic Bilbao
(04/04; La Liga)
Real Madrid:
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid
(19/03; La Liga)
Real Madrid 0-1 Sporting Gijon
(02/04; La Liga)
Real Madrid 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur (05/04; Champions League)
Key absences
Athletic Bilbao: Jonas Ramalho; Fernando Amorebieta (doubt); Igor Martinez (doubt)
Real Madrid: Fernando Gago; Karim Benzema (doubt)
Players to watch
Athletic Bilbao – Fernando Llorente: His side’s most important player, the Furia Roja international is wanted by many of Europe’s big guns. The Madrid defence might have breathed a sigh of relief as Peter Crouch was sent-off for Tottenham in midweek, but will have to deal with an even more difficult threat in Llorente.
Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo: After a quiet few games, Cristiano Ronaldo capped the goal feast with his side’s last strike against Spurs. The Portuguese megastar had to endure a harsh rehabilitation program to return against the Lilywhites, enjoying the game and playing the full 90 minutes. Should he continue in the same vein, he will be a nuisance for Bilbao.
Match Prediction
Los Blancos have responded admirably every time they have suffered a setback this season. The league title might be out of reach, but that does not mean that Mourinho will field a weakened side in the remaining fixtures. Should Los Blancos continue their form, then a win is a certainty at the San Mames. Expect Real Madrid to come out on top with a 2-1 final score.
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