Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Match Preview
A classic La Liga rivalry reignites at “The Cathedral” this Wednesday as Athletic Bilbao host Real Madrid. This fixture is a staple of Spanish football, but the two sides enter with very different immediate goals. Real Madrid, sitting 2nd with 33 points, are hunting down Barcelona in the title race. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have stumbled slightly with recent draws against Girona and Elche, but their 4-3 Champions League win over Olympiacos showed their attacking potency remains intact.
For Athletic Bilbao, the mission is European qualification. Currently 8th, the Lions are struggling for consistency, having lost heavily to Barcelona (0-4) recently before bouncing back with a win over Levante. However, they face a massive challenge: hosting the champions without their talisman Iñaki Williams. Can the San Mamés crowd lift a depleted Athletic side, or will Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior tear through the Basque defense?
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 19 – Midweek Round)
- Venue: Estadio San Mamés, Bilbao (Capacity: 53,331)
- Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Thursday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): LaLigaTV, Premier Sports
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
- TV Channel (India): GXR, Sports18
- Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA), GXR / JioStar (India)
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Athletic Bilbao:
- Position: 8th in La Liga (20 Points).
- Form: Inconsistent. They have lost 3 of their last 5 games in all competitions (including Champions League defeats). The 0-4 loss to Barcelona exposed defensive cracks.
- Current Challenge: An injury crisis at the back and front. Missing both Aymeric Laporte (illness) and Yeray Álvarez (suspension) leaves the defense thin, while the attack lacks pace without Iñaki.
Real Madrid:
- Position: 2nd in La Liga (33 Points).
- Form: Unbeaten but stuttering. Three draws in their last four league games (Girona, Elche, Rayo) have allowed Barcelona to take the lead.
- Current Challenge: Defensive leaks. They have conceded 7 goals in their last 3 matches across all competitions. They need to tighten up to survive San Mamés.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — What’s at Stake
For Athletic Bilbao:
- San Mamés Pride: Athletic rarely roll over at home against Madrid. A win would be a huge morale booster and keep them in the hunt for the Europa League spots.
For Real Madrid:
- Title Chase: With Barcelona winning, Madrid cannot afford another draw. They need 3 points to prevent the gap at the top from widening to a dangerous level.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Team Form
Athletic Bilbao (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Levante (2-0)
- D vs Slavia Prague (0-0 – CL)
- L vs Barcelona (0-4)
- W vs Real Oviedo (1-0)
- L vs Newcastle (0-2 – CL)
Real Madrid (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Girona (1-1)
- W vs Olympiacos (4-3 – CL)
- D vs Elche (2-2)
- D vs Rayo Vallecano (0-0)
- L vs Liverpool (0-1 – CL)
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Team News
Athletic Bilbao:
- Iñaki Williams: Out (Groin Injury – The biggest loss for Athletic).
- Aymeric Laporte: Out (Illness – Missing from central defense).
- Yeray Álvarez: Out (Doping Suspension).
- Beñat Prados: Out (Knee Injury).
- Unai Egiluz: Out (Knee Injury).
- Robert Navarro: Questionable (Injury).
- Key Man: Nico Williams must carry the attack alone in his brother’s absence.
Real Madrid:
- Dani Carvajal: Out (Knee Injury).
- David Alaba: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Dean Huijsen: Out (Muscle Injury).
- Raúl Asencio: Out (Illness).
- Returns: Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger are expected to partner in defense after recent rotations. Kylian Mbappé is fit and firing after his goal vs Girona.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Head to Head
- 21 Apr 2025: Real Madrid 1–0 Athletic
- 05 Dec 2024: Athletic 2–1 Real Madrid
- 01 Apr 2024: Real Madrid 2–0 Athletic
- 13 Aug 2023: Athletic 0–2 Real Madrid
- 04 Jun 2023: Real Madrid 1–1 Athletic
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Predicted Lineups
Athletic Bilbao (4-2-3-1):
Valverde has limited options at CB. Paredes and Vivian must start.
- GK: Unai Simón
- RB: Óscar de Marcos (C)
- CB: Dani Vivian
- CB: Aitor Paredes
- LB: Yuri Berchiche
- CDM: Mikel Vesga
- CDM: Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta
- RW: Álex Berenguer
- CAM: Oihan Sancet
- LW: Nico Williams
- ST: Gorka Guruzeta
Real Madrid (4-3-3):
Ancelotti goes full strength to end the draw streak. Trent Alexander-Arnold provides creativity from the right.
- GK: Thibaut Courtois
- RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
- CB: Éder Militão
- CB: Antonio Rüdiger
- LB: Ferland Mendy
- CM: Federico Valverde
- CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni
- CM: Jude Bellingham
- RW: Rodrygo
- ST: Kylian Mbappé
- LW: Vinícius Júnior
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Impact Bench Options
Athletic Bilbao:
- Álvaro Djaló: Pace off the bench to replace Berenguer or Guruzeta.
- Ander Herrera: Veteran experience to calm the midfield if the game gets chaotic.
Real Madrid:
- Brahim Díaz: A game-changer against tired legs. His dribbling can unlock tight defenses.
- Endrick: The young Brazilian offers a direct goal threat if Madrid need a late winner.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Tactical Outlook
Athletic Bilbao:
- Playing Style: High Intensity Press. At San Mamés, they will try to suffocate Madrid’s build-up. Without Iñaki Williams to run in behind, they will rely heavily on Nico Williams isolating Trent Alexander-Arnold on the flank.
- Weakness: Central Defense. Without Laporte and Yeray, the Vivian-Paredes partnership will be tested by the movement of Mbappé and Vinícius.
Real Madrid:
- Playing Style: Transition Kings. Madrid will happily invite Athletic’s press and then explode into space. Bellingham will look to arrive late in the box to support the front three.
- Strength: Right Flank Delivery. With Alexander-Arnold at RB, Madrid have a new dimension. His crosses to the back post for Vinícius could be lethal.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Nico Williams vs. Trent Alexander-Arnold | Speed vs. Passing: Nico is faster and will attack Trent’s defensive frailties. Trent will force Nico to defend with his passing range. | Athletic |
| Oihan Sancet vs. Aurélien Tchouaméni | Physical Duel: Sancet drives through the middle. Tchouaméni must be a rock to stop him. | Real Madrid |
| Gorka Guruzeta vs. Antonio Rüdiger | The Wrestle: Guruzeta works hard, but Rüdiger loves a physical battle. It will be tough for the Athletic striker to find space. | Real Madrid |
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Spotlight Players
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao):
With his brother Iñaki out, Nico is the main man. He needs to produce a 10/10 performance. If he can expose Real Madrid’s full-backs, Athletic have a chance.
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid):
The Frenchman saved a point against Girona with a penalty. He will be eager to score from open play. His pace against a makeshift Athletic defense is the biggest mismatch on the pitch.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Fan Reactions
Athletic Fans:
“No Iñaki, no Laporte… this is mission impossible. But San Mamés makes miracles happen!”
“Nico Williams needs to cook TAA. That’s our only way to win.”
Real Madrid Fans:
“Too many draws recently. We need to wake up and smash them.”
“Trent vs Nico Williams worries me defensively, but offensively we should score 3.”
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Match-Defining Factors
- The Williams Absence: Without Iñaki, Athletic lose their vertical threat. Can Guruzeta hold the ball up enough to bring others into play?
- Real Madrid’s Focus: After conceding 7 goals in 3 games, can they keep a clean sheet? If they concede early, panic might set in.
- Set Pieces: Madrid are dangerous from corners (Rüdiger/Militao). Athletic struggle to defend aerial balls without Laporte.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Prediction
Score Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1–3 Real Madrid
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Real Madrid to Win.
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals (Madrid’s attack is too strong for Athletic’s depleted defense).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Júnior.
Analysis: Athletic Bilbao are missing the spine of their team (Laporte, Yeray, Iñaki). Real Madrid, despite their recent stumbles, have too much firepower. While San Mamés will be loud, the quality of Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham should overwhelm the hosts in the second half.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — Final Word
Real Madrid need a statement win to get their title charge back on track, and a depleted Athletic Bilbao side might be the perfect opponent. Expect a brave fight from the Basques, fueled by their crowd, but Madrid’s class in the final third should ultimately secure a crucial three points.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid — FAQs
When is the Athletic vs Real Madrid match?
The match kicks off on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, at 21:00 CET (Thursday 01:30 IST).
Is Iñaki Williams playing?
No, Iñaki Williams is ruled out with a groin injury.
Is Trent Alexander-Arnold playing for Real Madrid?
Yes, in this 2025 timeline, Trent Alexander-Arnold plays for Real Madrid and is expected to start.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch the match live on the GXR app or website.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Can Nico Williams stun the champions, or will Madrid conquer the Cathedral? Drop your score predictions below!
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game.
