Real Madrid vs Athletic Club: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Real Madrid are hoping to keep pace with Barcelona in the La Liga title race when they take on fourth-place Athletic Club on Sunday night.

Fresh off their Champions League exit, it appeared as if Madrid's domestic hopes were going to receive a big boost on Saturday when Celta Vigo took a 3-1 lead in the second-half at Barca. However, Hansi Flick's side rallied after Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal's arrivals, eventually securing a dramatic 4-3 victory at the last.

Their lead is now seven points at the top, and although there's a Clasico still to be played, Madrid's title hopes will take an almighty blow if they fail to win on Sunday. They'll certainly need to be vastly improved from Wednesday night, when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Arsenal.

Unlike their hosts, Athletic enjoyed themselves in midweek and took another step towards a home Europa League final by beating Rangers 2-0 at San Mames in Thursday's quarter-final second leg.

They'll qualify for the Champions League by triumphing in Europe this season, but Ernesto Valverde's side are also primed for a top-four finish. Athletic are six points clear of Villarreal in fifth and haven't lost in La Liga since 1 March.

Here is 90min's guide to Sunday night's big La Liga clash.

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club head-to-head record (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Real Madrid vs Athletic Club on TV - UK & US

Real Madrid team news

Kylian Mbappe was sent off last week / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

Ancelotti will be forced into a change up top as a result of Kylian Mbappe's suspension. The Frenchman was sent off at Alaves last week for an awful challenge which somehow required VAR intervention to see a red card produced.

Endrick is poised to step up for the hosts, with the Madrid boss so far reluctant to trust the young Brazilian in La Liga. Starts have come few and far between for the teenager in year one.

Brahim Diaz could replace Rodrygo down the right, while Fran Garcia should come in for David Alaba. Federico Valverde will likely return to right-back and match-up against Nico Williams.

On the injury front, the hosts are still without Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Athletic (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Brahim, Bellingham, Vinicius; Endrick.

Athletic Club team news

inaki Williams was an unused substitute on Thursday night / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/GettyImages

While Nico Williams starred in Athletic's win over Rangers on Thursday, his older brother, Inaki, was an unused substitute due to an adductor injury. The forward could play a part in Madrid, but a start is unlikely.

The visitors are set to be without Yuri Berchiche again due to a calf issue, but they escaped their tie with the Gers without any more fitness complaints.

Spanish international Unai Simon is among the players poised to return to Valverde's XI.

Athletic Club predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

Athletic predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Simon; Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; Jauregizar, Prados; Berenguer, Sancet, N Williams; Guruzeta.

Real Madrid vs Athletic Club score prediction

Barcelona's come-from-behind victory on Saturday is a major psychological blow ahead of Athletic's visit to the Bernabeu. Ancelotti's men would've been buoyed by any Celta result in Catalonia, which looked likely for much of the contest, but Flick's side now look poised for La Liga glory.

Madrid were terrible over two legs against Arsenal, and Athletic enter Sunday's fixture in good form. They beat Los Blancos in the reverse fixture, and will back themselves to secure a rare win in the capital.

The hosts aren't capable of controlling games against impressive opposition, and Athletic are bound to create plenty given just how dynamic their frontline is. However, the absence of Mbappe will force Madrid's alternative superstars to step up, and the likes of Vini Jr and Jude Bellingham could inspire a result for the hosts. A draw, however, isn't ideal.