Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Los Blancos to return to winners circle

Los Blancos haven't tasted victory in the league since November 1 and with Barcelona upstaging Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday night, they now trail their main rivals by four points at the top of the table, meaning this is a hugely important game for them to keep pace heading towards the end of the year. Xabi Alonso is under pressure, with Real winning just one of their last five games in all competitions - including three consecutive draws in La Liga - while Bilbao have been struck down by injuries to key players this season and will do well to replicate their top six finishes from the last three seasons.

Bilbao did manage to secure a home win over Real last term, but they were playing much better football then. It's been a tough season, while Real have surely got to turn things around sooner rather than later. Kylian Mbappe is on fire with 14 goals for the season and their side is obviously superior on paper. Six of the last eight meetings have featured only one team scoring, so backing Real in a shut-out on the road.

Real are unbeaten in eight of the last nine La Liga meetings between the teams, but as mentioned, Bilbao did emerge 2-1 winners at home last term. Real won the most-recent clash in April of this year 1-0, with Fede Valverde scoring a 93rd minute winner.

Bilbao will welcome back Ruiz de Galarreta from suspension, however, the hosts remain without Oihan Sancet, who continues to serve his ban, while a number of injury concerns persist.

Benat Prados, Unai Egiluz, Maroan Sannadi, and Robert Navarro are all ruled out, while Inaki Williams remains a major doubt as he battles to recover from a lingering groin issue that has kept him sidelined for seven matches.

In Navarro’s absence, Unai Gómez is expected to start on the flank, with promising teenager Selton Sánchez also in contention. Aymeric Laporte is set to return to the squad after missing the weekend victory over Levante through illness.

Dani Carvajal remains unavailable due to a knee injury, while Dean Huijsen, David Alaba and Raul Asencio will face late fitness tests ahead of the trip north.

The defensive pairing of Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger both made successful comebacks against Girona and are expected to start again at the heart of defence, with Alvaro Carreras likely to return at left-back. In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga could be restored to the starting side to add balance and control, allowing Jude Bellingham to push forward behind a star-studded front line of Vini Junior and Mbappe.