Here we go again. It’s the third major test in just one week for Real Madrid, and this one feels like it’s on a knife's edge. The team is heading to the always-intense San Mamés for a Wednesday night showdown, and let’s be honest, there’s no safety net. After dropping valuable points in recent weeks, the pressure is on to walk away from Bilbao with a victory.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Real Madrid heads to San Mamés on the back of three consecutive league draws, needing a win to keep pace with Barcelona.
- ✓ Despite recent struggles, Madrid has won five of its last six league games at Athletic Bilbao's fortress, "La Catedral".
- ✓ Kylian Mbappé is in blistering form, leading LaLiga with an incredible 14 goals in 14 matches.
- ✓ Manager Xabi Alonso faces selection dilemmas, especially in defense with Rüdiger and Asencio both being fitness concerns.
- ✓ Athletic Club, currently eighth in the table, is looking to capitalize on Madrid's recent dip in form with the help of stars like Nico Williams.
A Slump in Form Meets a Fortress
You see, things haven't been going exactly to plan for Los Blancos. Despite not losing in their last seven domestic matches, they’ve hit a bit of a wall, drawing their last three league games. A 1-1 result against a struggling Girona was the latest setback, following similar stalemates in Vallecas and Elche. This has left them sitting in second place with 33 points, and they can't afford to lose any more ground on the league leaders, Barcelona.
On the other side, you have an Athletic Club that isn’t exactly flying high either. They’re eighth in the table and have had a pretty inconsistent start, losing six of their 14 matches. But here’s the thing about playing at San Mamés—the form book can often go out the window. The home crowd creates an electric atmosphere that seems to supercharge the players, and every team magnifies its motivation when facing the "King of Europe." They are coming off a solid 2-0 win over Levante, so their confidence will have gotten a nice little boost.
History Favors the Visitors, But It's Complicated
Now, if you just look at the recent history books, you’d think Madrid has this in the bag. In their last six league trips to "La Catedral," they’ve been remarkably reliable, securing five wins and suffering just a single defeat. That’s an impressive record at one of the toughest grounds in Spain. They’ve shown their dominance with repeated results, winning 0-2 in both the 2023/24 and 2022/23 seasons.
Before that, they clinched a 1-2 victory in the 2021/22 campaign and ground out tight 0-1 wins in both 2020/21 and 2019/20. That lone stumble, however, happened last season. It was a tough 2-1 loss where a certain French superstar really hit a low point. That was the day Mbappé missed a penalty, a moment that felt like a huge setback at the time. Ironically, that failure seems to have been a catalyst for him, as he’s been absolutely lethal ever since, and his upward trend continues.
The Mbappé Factor
And you just can’t talk about this Madrid side without talking about their main man. Kylian Mbappé is not just playing well; he's the engine, the flag-bearer, and the get-out-of-jail-free card. He is the current top scorer in LaLiga, boasting a ridiculous stat line of 14 goals in 14 appearances. When the team was in a tight spot against Olympiacos last week, it was his sheer brilliance that sealed the 4-3 victory. If Madrid is going to get back to winning ways, you can bet he’ll be at the heart of it.
A Test of Character for Xabi Alonso
When Xabi Alonso took the helm, it seemed like a match made in heaven. The team rattled off ten wins in their first 11 league games, with the only blemish being a wild 5-2 loss to Atlético. It felt like everything was clicking into place. But since then, the momentum has stalled. The three league draws, combined with a loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, have raised some questions.
The pressure is mounting on the manager to steer the ship back on course. To make matters more complicated, there are whispers of a dispute between Alonso and Vinícius Júnior, which has reportedly put a halt to the Brazilian’s contract renewal talks. Alonso now has the tough job of reactivating his squad, dispelling the ghosts of recent results, and navigating a tricky month of December. This trip to Bilbao is a massive test of his management.
The Team Sheet Puzzle
The good news for Alonso is that his injury crisis is finally starting to ease up. The return of Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger against Girona was a huge boost, and Eduardo Camavinga could be back in the starting eleven. However, the manager still has a massive headache when it comes to picking his central defense. Rüdiger looked good against Girona, but starting him twice in a row after a long injury is a big risk that "inquiets" the coaching staff.
The alternative, Asencio, is also a gamble as he’s just recovering from a nasty bout of gastroenteritis, leaving his physical state "entre ciertos algodones" (wrapped in cotton wool). On the left, Carreras will step in for Mendy, who is unfortunately out for the rest of 2025 with a hamstring tear. The midfield also presents a dilemma: does Arda Güler keep his place alongside Bellingham and Tchouameni, or will Camavinga get the nod? It’s a puzzle that Alonso will have to solve right up to the last minute.
Conclusion
So, the stage is set for a massive clash. Real Madrid desperately needs to find its rhythm again, but San Mamés is one of the last places you'd choose for an easy win. While Athletic Club has been inconsistent, they are a different beast at home, with players like Nico Williams ready to cause problems. The bottom line is that this match is more than just about three points; it's a test of resolve, depth, and character for Xabi Alonso's men.
With key players returning from injury and the unstoppable force of Kylian Mbappé leading the line, Madrid has the tools to get the job done. The betting odds favor them, but as we all know, football isn't played on paper. It will all come down to whether they can overcome their physical doubts and mental hurdles to silence the roar of La Catedral and avoid a fourth consecutive league disappointment.
