The 20-year-old Frenchman is among the most talented defenders on the planet, and former Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa backed the player before the match against Real, via Bleacher Report UK's Andrew Gibney:Andrew Gibney 🦄 @Gibney_ABielsa: "Laporte is a great player, with lots of qualities. I can't remember a fault that I could tell you.
According to AS English, he has been training with his teammates, and he is likely to feature:AS English @English_ASCristiano Ronaldo is training with the rest of his Real Madrid teammates ahead of tomorrow's match against AthleticToni Kroos is expected to return to the starting XI, and in the potential absence of Ronaldo, James Rodriguez will likely move into a more offensive role, giving Kroos and Luca Modric free range to utilise their passing abilities. Aymeric Laporte will be looked at to help stem the offensive onslaught Real are capable of producing, but the youngster didn't enjoy his best outing during the team's midweek 2-1 loss to BATE Borisov.
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and PreviewAlberto Saiz/Associated PressAthletic Bilbao have had a nightmare start to the 2014-15 La Liga season, and things aren't about to get any easier as high-flying Real Madrid will be waiting for them in the Spanish Capital on Sunday. Los Blancos have scored an incredible 20 goals in six matches so far, per WhoScored. com, and after a rocky start to the season, the Champions League holders appear to be firing on all cylinders. The Basques have struggled for goals early in the campaign and have yet to find any answers, as Sunday's fixture has the potential to get ugly. Date: Sunday, October 5Time: 8 p. m.
" #OMBilbao will need their star centre-back to be at his very best on Sunday, because Los Blancos' home record against the Basques is quite phenomenal, as shared by the club's Twitter feed:#CHAMP13NS 🇺🇸🇬🇧 @realmadridenReal Madrid have won their last 9 matches against Athletic in the Bernabéu http://t. co/xeYND2gWR9 #RealMadridAthletic http://t. co/Vdu2WXwgNHMuch will depend on the availability and effectiveness of Ronaldo. While Real are undoubtedly a great team without their star forward, the Portugal international adds an element of scoring ability unmatched in the sport.
The visitors have once again been forced to retool their squad after seeing a top player depart during the summer (Ander Herrera to Manchester United), and plenty of pundits will be quick to point to Bilbao's policy of only fielding Basque players as a reason for their struggles. In truth, Athletic are just finding out what any good Spanish club not named Real, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona have known for years: It's incredibly difficult to play in the UEFA Champions League and still remain competitive in Spain. BBC Sport's Andy West highlighted how Bilbao's plight is similar to Real Sociedad's last year:Andy West @andywest01Sad to see what's happening with Athletic Bilbao.
Just like Real Sociedad last season. Basques + Champions League = disasterReal have no such issues currently, and powered by the most in-form scorer in all of football in Cristiano Ronaldo, Los Blancos have strung together an impressive series of results. Ronaldo picked up a knock during Real's midweek fixture in the UEFA Champions League and is a minor doubt for the Bilbao clash.
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and PreviewAlberto Saiz/Associated PressAthletic Bilbao have had a nightmare start to the 2014-15 La Liga season, and things aren't about to get any easier as high-flying Real Madrid will be waiting for them in the Spanish Capital on Sunday. Los Blancos have scored an incredible 20 goals in six matches so far, per WhoScored. com, and after a rocky start to the season, the Champions League holders appear to be firing on all cylinders.
BST/3 p. ETVenue: Estadio BernabeuTV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports 5 (for UK viewers) and BeIN Sports (for US viewers), with mobile coverage available via the Sky Go app and BeIN Sports Connect. PreviewAlvaro Barrientos/Associated PressReal Madrid have won their last three La Liga fixtures by a total margin of 12 goals—Athletic are winless in their last four, including three defeats. On paper, fans could be in for a massacre on Sunday. The visitors have once again been forced to retool their squad after seeing a top player depart during the summer (Ander Herrera to Manchester United), and plenty of pundits will be quick to point to Bilbao's policy of only fielding Basque players as a reason for their struggles.
In truth, Athletic are just finding out what any good Spanish club not named Real, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona have known for years: It's incredibly difficult to play in the UEFA Champions League and still remain competitive in Spain. BBC Sport's Andy West highlighted how Bilbao's plight is similar to Real Sociedad's last year:Andy West @andywest01Sad to see what's happening with Athletic Bilbao. Just like Real Sociedad last season. Basques + Champions League = disasterReal have no such issues currently, and powered by the most in-form scorer in all of football in Cristiano Ronaldo, Los Blancos have strung together an impressive series of results.
The Basques have struggled for goals early in the campaign and have yet to find any answers, as Sunday's fixture has the potential to get ugly. Date: Sunday, October 5Time: 8 p. m. BST/3 p. ETVenue: Estadio BernabeuTV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports 5 (for UK viewers) and BeIN Sports (for US viewers), with mobile coverage available via the Sky Go app and BeIN Sports Connect. PreviewAlvaro Barrientos/Associated PressReal Madrid have won their last three La Liga fixtures by a total margin of 12 goals—Athletic are winless in their last four, including three defeats. On paper, fans could be in for a massacre on Sunday.
Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid live stream: La Liga prediction