Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao | Spanish Primera Division | Round 37 | Preview
Real Madrid welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Santiago Bernabeu in what will be their final home match of the season. The Whites are sitting on 92 points and only two wins away from reaching their goal of 98.
The Whites are six points shy of 98 as they play their last home match of the season
Manuel Pellegrini and company are well aware of the fact that a victory against Athletic followed by another in La Rosaleda against Malaga will put them in a good position to win the league title. They also know that they need some help from Barcelona, who must not win their two remaining matches.
Athletic Bilbao will by no means be a pushover. Real Madrid have had to mount comebacks in their last two matches against Osasuna and Mallorca; a situation they hope to avoid against Caparros’ men. Manuel Pellegrini has called up 19 men for the second-to-last final of the year. Raul, Van der Vaart and Pepe were not included as all continue recovering from injury.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Garay, Metzelder
Midfielder: Gago, Diarra, Kaka, Lass, Guti, Drenthe, Xabi Alonso, Granero
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain
Los Leones are one point off qualifying for a berth in next season’s Europa League having drawn their last two matches. Real Madrid need to keep an eye on Fernando Llorente, who has had an exceptional season and is a candidate to represent Spain in this summer’s World Cup.
The Santiago Bernabeu will be packed to the brim to bid farewell to a team that has won 17 of the 18 matches already played there this year.
ATHLETIC BILBAO SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Iraizoz, Armando
Defenders: Koikili, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, San Jose, Iraola, Iturraspe
Midfielders: Yeste, Gabilondo, Susaeta, Gurpegi, Javi Martínez
Forwards: Toquero, Llorente, Muniain, De Marcos, Etxeberria
Referee: Mr. Muñiz Fernandez
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