Federico Valverde is set to come in for the suspended Casemiro when Real Madrid welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Tuesday.
Real Madrid will be hoping to stretch their recent three-game winning run when they play hosts to Athletic Bilbao at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Tuesday night. And, Zinedine Zidane has a fresh roster issue to contend with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Casemiro will miss out when Athletic Bilbao pay Real Madrid a visit due to a suspension, incurred after an accumulation of yellow cards. Apart from the Brazilian, Zidane will also have to make do without the likes of Martin Odegaard, Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz, each of whom miss out on the matchday squad due to their respective fitness issues.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
The absence of Casemiro should thrust Federico Valverde into the starting lineup, with the Uruguay international sitting at the base of Real Madrid’s three-man midfield. Valverde will be joined by Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the middle of the park, with Isco, whose future at the club remains uncertain, miss out again.
Zidane was quizzed about the Spaniard’s lack of game-time during his pre-match press conference, and the Real Madrid boss said, “He’s going to be an important player. It’s true that he’s not playing much lately and I’m not giving him a chance to prove how good a player he is.”
“I feel sorry for my players because I really care about them and I’ll never forget what I have been through with them. He has to do what he’s doing, working hard to get another chance, but I can’t say anything about what’s being said because we don’t control what’s being said on the outside.”
Changes are likely to be kept to a minimum in the rest of the starting lineup, especially with the players impressing last time out against Atletico Madrid. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane will be stationed at the heart of the Real Madrid defence, with Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy being the full-back pairing, while Thibaut Courtois will take his customary place in goal.
Finally, in attack, Karim Benzema is a certainty to lead the line for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao. Marco Asensio and Rodrygo Goes are pushing to be recalled to the starting lineup, but Lucas Vazquez and Vinicius Jr. should keep hold of their places after a job well done versus Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Valverde, Kroos; Vazquez, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
