Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Real Madrid (LaLiga MD1)

The tests are over and the serious stuff begins. On Saturday night, Athletic Club get their 2023/24 LaLiga EA Sports campaign underway.

And what a way to kick things off as Real Madrid visit Bilbao for the 93rd year in a row. The Lions will be desperate to hit the ground running and give the Athleticzales something to cheer about.

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid

San Mames, Bilbao

LaLiga EA Sports 23/24 (Matchday 1)

Saturday August 12, 21:30 CEST

How to Watch
When and where to watch Saturday's showdown at The Cathedral.

Team News
Valverde has named a 23-man squad for the clash in Bilbao.

A slightly new look to Athletic's matchday squad for this first fixture of the campaign. Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Imanol, Javier Martón and Beñat Prados, a mix of academy graduates and summer signings, are the new lads on the block, while Asier Villalibre and Peru Nolaskoain have returned from loan spells away. What's more, Unai Gómez could potentially make his senior debut.

On the other hand, Jon Morcillo is left out this week, joined by Dani García, Yeray Alvaréz and Yuri Berchiche, who are still recovering from their respective injuries.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with what the gaffer had to say ahead of Sunday's clash.

The Opponents

Head coach: Carlo Ancelotti

One of the most highly decorated managers of all time, the Italian tactician has won it all. He is the only coach in history to win a first division title in all of the five top European leagues: AC Milan (2003/04), Chelsea (2009/10), Paris Saint-Germain (2012/13), Bayern Munich (2016/17) and Real Madrid (2021/22).

In addition to all those titles, he also has four Champions League winners medals in the cabinet: AC Milan (2002/03, 2006/07) and Real Madrid (2013/14, 2021/22).

Marquee signing: Jude Bellingham

There has been a lot of movement at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. Long-serving French striker Karim Benzema left for Saudi Arabia, while Marco Asensio has gone to PSG and Eden Hazard was released from his contract.

But new faces have also come in. Real Madrid's most eye-catching signing is young English midfielder Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. Despite having only just turned 20, Jude has 24 England caps to his name and is already considered one of Europe's top players.

He started his career at hometown club Birmingham City before moving to Germany in 2020. In three seasons with the Black and Yellows, Bellingham made 125 appearances, won the DFB-Pokal Cup in 2020/21 and last season become the youngest captain in Dortmund history when deputising for injured Marco Reus.

In addition to the Englishmen, Real Madrid have brought in Arda Güler, 18, from Fenerbahçe and Fran García from Rayo Vallecano, while Joselu has joined on loan from RCD Espanyol.

Pre-season form: WWLL

Los Blancos played four pre-season friendlies in the United States, beating AC Milan 3-2 and Man Utd 2-0, while they lost 3-0 against FC Barcelona and 3-1 against Juventus.

Previous Meetings
Since their first meeting in the inaugural 1928/29 LaLiga season, Athletic Club and Real Madrid have played each other 184 times in the top flight, with the Zurigorri racking up 51 wins, 36 draws and 97 losses.

As for the 92 league matches played in Bilbao, Athletic Club have 38 wins, 19 draws and 35 defeats so far.

In the last five encounters at San Mames, Athletic have managed a draw while Real Madrid took the spoils in the other four fixtures.

The Zurigorri's most recent victory over Real Madrid came in the 2021/22 Copa del Rey, with Alex Berenguer scoring an 89th minute winner to ensure Los Rojiblancos won the quarter-final tie.