Real Madrid Under Pressure as Title Race Shifts

Athletic Club will face Real Madrid in a crucial La Liga showdown tonight at the Estadio San Mamés as the defending champions look to rescue their title aspirations.

Madrid arrive on the back of three consecutive draws, allowing Barcelona to seize pole position in the standings. With Xabi Alonso facing mounting pressure, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Los Blancos. Athletic come into the fixture with renewed confidence after defeating Levante 2-0, presenting a formidable home challenge.

🔥 Quick Facts

• Real Madrid have drawn their last three La Liga matches, falling from first to second place in the standings
• Athletic Bilbao defeated Levante 2-0 on November 29, scoring through Robert Navarro and Nico Williams
• Barcelona currently leads La Liga with 3 additional points after Madrid’s recent struggles in December 2025
• This will be Madrid’s fourth consecutive away match in the league due to their Super Cup participation

Real Madrid Under Pressure as Title Race Shifts

Real Madrid’s comfortable position at the top of La Liga has evaporated over the past week. Three successive draws against Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona have cost them crucial ground in Spain’s fiercest title battle. Manager Xabi Alonso has come under intense scrutiny, with recent reports questioning his future at the Bernabéu. The Italian coach took over from Carlo Ancelotti in the summer but hasn’t generated the immediate title momentum expected at a club of Madrid’s stature.

Against Girona most recently, Madrid painted a picture of a team in transition. They were forced to come from behind after Azzedine Ounahi put the hosts ahead, with Kylian Mbappé equalizing from the penalty spot. It wasn’t the authoritative display expected from championship contenders. Mbappé later wrote on social media that the team needs to “change this dynamic and show who we are as a team.”

Athletic Bilbao Shows Fight with Levante Victory

While Madrid stumbled, Athletic Bilbao provided evidence of their own competitive fire by defeating Levante 2-0 last Saturday. The victory represented a crucial turnaround for Ernesto Valverde‘s side, who had endured several disappointing results in recent weeks. Manager Valverde emphasized how important the win was for team morale ahead of facing the heavyweights. Nico Williams was particularly influential, scoring and dazzling throughout the match.

Athletic currently sit eighth in La Liga with 20 points from 14 games and have proven they can compete on their home turf, which boasts strong recent form with four wins and a draw from seven league matches at San Mamés this season. The vociferous crowd will be a factor tonight as Madrid search for three points.

Team News and Tactical Setup

Factor	Athletic Bilbao	Real Madrid
Form (Last 5)	2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses	1 Win, 3 Draws, 1 Loss
Key Absences	Sancet (red card), Iñaki Williams (doubt), injured players	Carvajal (knee operation), defensive issues
Star Performer	Nico Williams (goal scorer vs Levante)	Kylian Mbappé (14 La Liga goals)
Expected Formation	4-2-3-1	4-2-3-1

Athletic will welcome back midfielder Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta from suspension, while defending anchor Aymeric Laporte returns after missing the Levante match due to illness. Madrid’s defense has been reshaped with the return of crucial center-backs Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão both available for selection. Los Blancos expect defender Álvaro Carreras and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga to return to the starting lineup after appearing only as substitutes against Girona.

Historical Context: Athletic’s Home Advantage

The head-to-head record overwhelmingly favors Real Madrid historically with 124 wins to Athletic’s 79 victories across 248 meetings between the clubs. However, Athletic claimed an important scalp with a 2-1 home victory in their most recent matchup, with goals from Alex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta. That represented Athletic’s first La Liga win over Real Madrid at home since March 2015, demonstrating the challenge Madrid face navigating the intimidating San Mamés atmosphere.

The Basque club’s resilience at home cannot be underestimated. Madrid has rarely struggled at this venue in recent years, but the current pressure on Alonso and defensive vulnerabilities suggest Athletic presents a genuine threat. Real Madrid must be clinical on the counter-attack and avoid the defensive lapses that characterized recent performances.

Can Real Madrid Regain Their Title Charge Tonight?

Tonight’s encounter represents a pivotal moment in Real Madrid’s title defense. A win keeps them in contention with so many matches remaining, while another draw could see them fall further behind as Barcelona and other challengers circle. Alonso‘s tactical flexibility and decision-making in this fixture will be scrutinized. Athletic represents a different challenge from recent opponents—a side comfortable playing on the front foot with tactical organization and home support.

The question isn’t necessarily whether Madrid has the quality to win; it’s whether they can rediscover the killer instinct that evaporated in their recent draws. Mbappé, Vinícius Jr., and Jude Bellingham possess the individual brilliance to unlock Athletic’s defense. But if Madrid continue their pattern of drawing manageable-looking matches, the La Liga title race could slip away irretrievably. Athletic, meanwhile, seeks to maintain their recent momentum and prove they belong among Spain’s elite even if their league position suggests otherwise.

Sources

• Sports Illustrated – Comprehensive preview with lineup predictions and head-to-head analysis
• Al Jazeera – Team news updates and manager quotes from recent fixtures
• ESPN – Current La Liga standings and team statistics

Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.