Madrid, Spain — Real Madrid dey prepare for big La Liga match against Athletic Club on Sunday, April 20, 2025, for Santiago Bernabéu. Dis match come after dem suffer exit from Champions League, where dem lose 5-1 in aggregate to Arsenal for quarter-finals. Di pressure don dey mount on coach Carlo Ancelotti, as fans dey expect better performance from di team.
After dem midweek heartbreak, Los Blancos need to refocus on domestic league wey dey see dem four points behind Barcelona for di top. Di stakes high, as Athletic Club dey chase Champions League qualification only four points away from dem.
Dey don release squad wey go play di match, and dem get some notable absences and returns. Kylian Mbappé go miss di game because of suspension from di red card wey e collect against Alaves. Dis one no good for Madrid’s attack as Mbappé don dey shine for dem. But Eduardo Camavinga don return after him suspension from di match against Arsenal.
Other players in di squad include Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, who all go need play well in Mbappé’s absence. Di complete squad get goalkeepers Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, and Fran González; defenders David Alaba, Lucas Vázquez, Vallejo, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger, and Asensio; midfielders Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Luka Modrić, Aurélien Tchouameni, Arda Güler, and Dani Ceballos; and forwards Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Brahim.
For di last match against Arsenal, Real Madrid struggle as dem lose 2-1 for home and dat one don add to di aggregate defeat. Di fans wey dey hope for comeback now feel disconnection as dem dey expect positive response from di team for dis match. Ancelotti talk about di challenge ahead, say, “We dey focus on three competitions; La Liga, Copa del Rey final, and di Club World Cup. We go analyze wetin we fit do better; La Liga still dey play…”
Athletic Club dey come into dis match with confidence after dem beat Rangers 2-0 to secure their spot for Europa League semi-finals. Dem dey fourth for di La Liga table, nine points clear of sixth-placed Real Betis, and very well positioned for Champions League qualification through their league standing. Dey go wan exploit Real Madrid vulnerabilities, especially on di flanks, where their fast winger Nico Williams fit pose serious threat.
As both teams dey prepare for dis high-stakes encounter, Mbappé absence fit force Ancelotti to change formation wey work for dem last season, with Bellingham likely going to play more central role. Camavinga return go add more depth to midfield, wey crucial to control di game against well-organized Athletic side.
Di match promise to be interesting, because both teams get plenty to play for. Real Madrid go look to avoid more embarrassment and keep their La Liga title hopes alive, while Athletic dey aim to take advantage of di current disarray wey dey in di hosts.
Kick-off go happen at 21:00 CET (03:00 PM EST), and di match go dey broadcast on various platforms like Movistar La Liga and ESPN+. Fans fit expect charged atmosphere as di players enter di field, with di Santiago Bernabéu crowd dey eager to see how dem fit respond to recent troubles.
As di clock dey tick down to kick-off, all eyes go dey on how Real Madrid fit bounce back from their recent setbacks and whether dem fit secure vital three points against formidable Athletic Bilbao.
