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Date/Time: Jan. 16, 2010, 2:00pm Competition: Spain La Liga Live/Repeat: Live

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Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid Match Preview

The atmosphere at San Mames will be electric on Saturday evening when Athletic Bilbao welcome Real Madrid on match-day 18 of the Spanish Primera Division.

Real Madrid analyses

Heading into this weekend’s encounter, the Spanish giants seat just two points behind leaders and rivals Barcelona.
But who knows if things might not change at the very end of the day?

Real Madrid to overtake Barcelona?

As things stand in the table, Los Blancos will take hold of La Liga’s top spot again if they beat Athletic Bilbao in San Mames and if Barcelona succumb to defeat at home to Sevilla in Saturday’s last fixture.

Ahead of Real Madrid’s encounter this weekend, Spanish international goalkeeper Iker Casillas expressed his optimism concerning his team’s chances of taking the lead in La Liga’s table after match-day 18.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper avowed:

“I expect us to win and I think that Sevilla can beat Barcelona. This will therefore make us leaders.”

Talking about Barcelona, the Blaugrana suffered a Copa del Rey exit earlier in the week against Sevilla despite defeating them 1-0 at the end of the 90 minute.

This defeat on aggregate left Barcelona players angry and hurt so they might go out in search of a sweet revenge at all cost against their Andalusia opponents.

Barcelona will be playing with the wild desire of brushing away their 2-1 disappointing loss at the Camp Nou which they suffered in the hands of Sevilla earlier in January and which engineered their Copa del Rey exit.

Some Real Madrid fans may mock Barca’s failure and tip Sevilla to repeat their achievement in Cataluña on Saturday night.

But unlike Iker Casillas, Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso believes that people will have to wait and see whether Barcelona will be negatively affected by their anguishing Copa del Rey exit in midweek.

After all, should the Catalans repeat the 1-0 score line that they managed against Sevilla on Wednesday, it will then be enough for them to remain on top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid.

The important thing for Los Blancos will be to focus on their own game and clinch all three points away to Athletic Bilbao before Barcelona and Sevilla close the day in what should be a fascinating clash.

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema to destroy Athletic Bilbao?

Athletic Bilbao will surely have to put a close eye on Karim Benzema on Saturday evening. The French striker will be given a rare start for Los Blancos by coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Karim Benzema will actually be replacing Gonzalo Higuain who suffered a left foot injury that will reportedly keep him out of action for at least three weeks.

Following his summer move to the Santiago Bernabeu, the former Lyon number 10 forward has endured a rather disappointing opening season for Real Madrid.

He’s been on the bench most often and he will only be making his twelfth start in twenty-six competitive matches since the beginning of the campaign.

Karim Benzema, who has been following Cristiano Ronaldo’s motivational training tips recently, knows how important it will be to perform well against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Benzema stated:

“I don’t want to waste this opportunity. Now I must prove that I belong to this team. I have a feeling that the coach is actually preparing me for the final part of the season.”

In a poll conducted by AS, Karim Benzema was favored by fans ahead of skipper Raul Gonzalez to partner Cristiano Ronaldo in attack on a regular basis in replacement of the injured Gonzalo Higuain.

Can the striker’s hunger for more playing time with Real Madrid swallow Athletic Bilbao’s defence?

Quick points on Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao

There will be a reunion between former Real Sociedad player Xabi Alonso and Athletic Bibao.

Now as a Real Madrid player, the midfielder recalls the tantalizing atmosphere that there used to be when rivals Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao met in San Mames.

“I played a number of derbies with Real Sociedad and I can say that the atmosphere was phenomenal. I think it will be the same with Real Madrid.

“The San Mames is a very special place that is very involved with its team. These are the matches that players like.”

Quick stats

Athletic Bilbao have conceded more goals at home than they’ve scored (10 goals scored compared to 11 goals allowed).

They've also won two of their last four home matches whereas Real Madrid have clinched victory only once in their last three away games.

Meanwhile, the attacking duel will be between Karim Benzema and Fernando Llorente who both have five goals in La Liga.

On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo will try and celebrate his recent achievements in the market and celebrity world by scoring his first goal of the year 2010.

Watch Real Madrid vs Racing Santander Live Streamsn of Spenish league here in 21 Nov 2009

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Date/Time: Nov. 21, 2009, 2:00pm Competition: Spain La Liga Live/Repeat: Live

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Watch the Spain la liga of Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Live Streams here in 21 Nov 2009

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Date/Time: Nov. 21, 2009, 2:00pm Competition: Spain La Liga Live/Repeat: Live

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Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Match Preview

Nov 19th 2009

A hard moment filled with international matches might have certainly weakened the majority of players from top European leagues, but surely, both Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona will have to put their exhaustion aside when they face each other at the San Mames stadium on Saturday.

Stories from the past

The two sides met on several occasions out of the Spanish League competition, but unquestionably, their most entertaining meetings took place this year, as both sides met in the Copa del Rey final, and then went on to decide the Spanish Super Cup title.

In all, Barcelona were definitely the conquerors, humiliating the Basques 4-1 at the Mestalla stadium to clinch their first domestic cup last season, and enjoying an aggregate 5-1 score line later on in the Super Cup.

Of course, these facts prove how well the defending Spanish League champions have often managed to come out on top of Athletic Bilbao.

Well, even though both teams did not have so many remarkable changes in their squads during the summer transfer window, the result of this weekend’s league game at Bilbao could be the outcome of a totally different story altogether.

Athletic Bilbao – Struggling for a better form

A coach would undoubtedly be wrong to under-estimate the powers of the Basques, as over the years, they have proven to achieve several things that even other big sides in Spain have not been able to accomplish.

This could be justified by the fact that they currently occupy the second place in the rankings for the Copa del Rey’s best teams of all times, with 24 cups in their museum. In any case, this is not really the issue here, as their next challenge concerns the Spanish League competition only.

Unfortunately this season, Athletic Bilbao have not been in a consistent shape in the league so far, winning 5 games, losing 4, and drawing 1.

They currently occupy the 8th place in the La Liga standings with 16 points, and with -2 as their goal difference. This shows how hard their struggle have been to reserve themselves a place in the first half of the table, but still, their difficulties have not stopped them from staying on track in the UEFA Europa League.

Consequently, one can presume that although the Basques are still as physically strong as they were last season, they lack of efficiency in front of goal, as well as the ability to take control of encounters.

FC Barcelona – Not allowed to miss points

As for the league leaders, their situation in the league has been totally normal so far, having played 10 games overall like any other team. Despite this fact, they have been capable setting themselves apart with 26 points out of 30 possible so far.

This then makes them first in the standings, either one point ahead of rivals Real Madrid who sit second with 25 points.

Indeed, the gap at the top of the table is now a tinny one, but this can partly be explained through the unnecessary 1-1 draw the Catalans made away from home to Osasuna, about 3 weeks ago.

In fact, considering the hunger of Los Blancos after the temporary loss of their star player Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no doubt that one more mistake from Barcelona preventing 3 more points to remain at the top, could be a deadly one for Pep Guardiola’s side; as they might therefore cheaply give away the number 1 spot in La Liga’s table.

This is not something Barcelona fans would want to see happen, and thus, it is up to their men on the pitch to make things happen, instead of letting them happen.

Clear Facts

In addition to the fact that Bilbao will play as the hosts, they will need to get a win if ever they are to widen their chances of entering the top four places in Spain; whereas Barcelona will be looking to get nothing but a victory, as Real Madrid will want to keep the pressure on them by beating Racing Santander.

Possibilities in the game

Barcelona might not find it easy to humble the home side if ever Bilbao decide to start the game aggressively, as the Catalans have proven to be lacking of composure and expertise at their back these recent weeks.

Speaking of the Athletic Bilbao, allowing the midfield of Barcelona to trouble them could push them to concede a flood of goals, which would eventually leave them no option but to submit themselves to Barcelona’s imposing power.