News
SÁB 19.04.2025
Real Madrid are set to host Athletic Club on Sunday in one of the many exciting matchups of LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 32, and both teams got back to winning ways last weekend after dropping points on Matchday 30. Los Blancos grabbed a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Deportivo Alavés, with Eduardo Camavinga netting the winner for the visitors. This win provided Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a boost in morale following two losses and a draw in their previous three games across all competitions. It was also Real Madrid’s first clean sheet in 10 games, their last dating back to February 26th in a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey.
As for Athletic Club, the Basque side saw Pathé Ciss give Rayo Vallecano an early lead in their clash at San Mamés. Yet, the hosts showed character as they bounced back and dominated in the second half, with Oihan Sancet bagging a brace and Iñaki Williams scoring one of his own to turn the game around for a 3-1 home win, Athletic Club’s first victory in four games across all competitions. Having conceded just one goal in their last five matches, Los Leones have extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, with three wins and four losses.
A decisive game in the title race
With just seven matchdays to go until the end of the 2024/25 LALIGA EA SPORTS season, the result of the duel between second-placed Real Madrid and fourth-placed Athletic Club could be decisive in the title race. Ancelotti’s team sit four points behind leaders FC Barcelona, who are scheduled to host their fierce rivals in ELCLASICO at the Estadi Olímpic on May 11th. Meanwhile, the Basque side are looking to secure a top-four spot that would allow them to clinch qualification for the Champions League for the first time in a decade.
On Sunday, Real Madrid will also set out seeking revenge, as one of their just five league losses this season came at the hands of their upcoming opponents. That was when Los Leones hosted Los Blancos on Matchday 19 back in early December, with Álex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta netting one each to secure a 2-1 victory at San Mamés.
The head-to-head is in Real Madrid’s favour
Despite losing last time these clubs met, Real Madrid have been dominant against Athletic Club on home soil over the last two decades. In fact, the last time the Basque side celebrated a win at the Bernabéu was back in the 2004/05 campaign, when former Rayo Vallecano coach and current Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola netted one of the two goals in a 2-0 road victory. From that point on, Real Madrid have recorded as many as 16 home wins over Athletic Club, with three games ending in a draw.
Considered one of the most significant fixtures in the history of Spanish football, this is a showdown between two of the three LALIGA EA SPORTS clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight, with FC Barcelona being the other. It promises to captivate fans from all over the world, with reigning champions Real Madrid looking to put pressure on Barça in their bid to defend their league title and Athletic Club competing for Champions League qualification. This next meeting between the two clubs is expected to be as entertaining as ever.
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