FootyChatter.com

Follow live as Real Madrid visit Athletic Club in La Liga Real currently four points behind leaders Barcelona Athletic Club down in eighth Charlotte Coates Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) San Mames - one of football's greatest venues. This place will be rocking soon as Athletic Club look to overcome Real Madrid. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) Kylian Mbappe has scored 23 goals in 19 games across all competitions this season – among players in Europe's top five leagues, only Harry Kane has more with 24 goals, excluding the Club World Cup. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn't had the greatest start to life at Real Madrid but the right-back gets another chance to prove himself from the start this evening. He'll be up against the pacey Nico Williams. Can't wait to see how this one pans out. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso is under pressure after three straight draws saw Real Madrid's five-point lead at the top of La Liga evaporate. This week he said he has spoken to club president Florentino Perez, and that talks were constructive. "We're struggling, that's the reality. We need unity. That's what we're focused on to be more consistent and how to win away from home in La Liga, " Alonso said. "I have spoken to him [Perez] again and the conversations are very positive, with a very good tone. That's what we've talked about, turning the results around. "It's all very close and there are a lot of points still up for grabs, so a lot can happen. " Read more here. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) It's hard to believe Xabi Alonso is under pressure at Real Madrid but that is the nature of probably the toughest managerial job in the world. After three draws in a row in La Liga, Real's lead at the top has gone and now Barcelona are frontrunners. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) Right then, Real Madrid come into this game knowing they need to pick up three points after falling four points behind rivals Barcelona. Three points for Athletic Club will take them right into European contention. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) Ernesto Valverde makes three changes to the Athletic Club side that beat Levante 2-0 at the weekend. Aymeric Laporte, Adama Boiro and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta come in for Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche and Robert Navarro. Athletic Club XI: Unai Simon, Lekue, Vivian, Laporte, Adama, Rego, Galarreta, Berenguer, Jauregizar, Nico Williams, Guruzeta. Subs: Padilla, Gorosabel, Paredes, Vesga, Areso, Yuri, Unai Gomez, Nico Serrano, Izeta, Selton, Bujan, Eder Garcia. Xabi Alonso makes two changes after Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona on Sunday. Fran Garcia and Arda Guler drop to the bench, with Alvaro Carreras and Eduardo Camavinga coming in. Trent Alexander-Arnold starts a third consecutive La Liga match. Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Carreras, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Mbappe. Subs: Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Endrick, Rodrygo, Arda Guler, Gonzalo, Asencio, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Brahim, Mastantuono. Athletic Club v Real Madrid (18: 00 GMT) Hello and welcome along to this live text on this fine Wednesday evening. We've got a right treat for you tonight as Real Madrid look to close the gap on Barcelona at the top of La Liga to one point but they must come through Athletic Club first. Kick-off is in 15 minutes, so let's get cracking. Alexander-Arnold has started only five La Liga games since joining Real Madrid Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered an injury as Real Madrid beat Athletic Club resoundingly to end a three-game winless run and move a point behind La Liga leaders Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga put Xabi Alonso's side in control by half-time on Wednesday, before Mbappe scored his 16th league goal of the season. After providing his first assist since joining Real from Liverpool in the summer, Alexander-Arnold went off in the 55th minute of his fifth game since returning from a hamstring injury. Real said on Thursday that the England international had injured his left quadriceps. In the seventh minute Mbappe expertly controlled a diagonal cross-field pass from Alexander-Arnold, then drove towards the penalty area, brilliantly skipped past two defenders and fired into the corner of the net. The Frenchman turned provider when he headed Alexander-Arnold's clipped delivery back across the face of goal for Camavinga - who was later replaced because of injury - to nod into an empty net. Mbappe scored his second with a dipping low effort that caught out Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon. A seventh defeat in 12 league games left Athletic Club eighth in the table. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 3rd December 2025 at 19: 52 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Ernesto Valverde Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Xabi Alonso Formation: 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 Manager: Ernesto Valverde Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1 Manager: Xabi Alonso Formation: 4 - 2 - 2 - 2 Spanish La Liga All competitions All competitions All competitions Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.