There is a huge game coming up on Sunday night at the Bernabéu, one of the most interesting matches remaining this LaLiga season, as league leaders Real Madrid host Athletic Club. The Basques entered the international break in fourth position, meaning they’re currently in the final Champions League berth, and they’re hoping to stay there all the way until Matchday 38 in order to return to Europe’s top continental competition for the first time in a decade.These two sides met all the way back on Matchday 1, with Carlo Ancelotti’s squad winning 2-0 at San Mamés and with Jude Bellingham scoring his first goal in Spain. A lot has happened since then, as the Englishman has continued finding the back of the net and currently leads the top scorer charts with 16 goals. This weekend, he’ll be back in action for his club after serving a suspension.Running out of time: Barca have to solve the coach issue soonThis match could have been Thibaut Courtois’ comeback from serious injury, but Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper suffered a new injury a few days ago and, like Éder Militão and David Alaba through injury and Vinícius through suspension, will miss Athletic Club’s visit to the Spanish capital. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7993014##Even still, there is plenty of confidence at Real Madrid, who have lost just once this league campaign, and that was in September. They return to LaLiga action eight points clear of FC Barcelona, with nine rounds to play and with El Classico just a few weeks away. Should Los Blancos win this matchday, they would clear one of the toughest hurdles that remains this season and move one step closer to the title. However, Athletic Club have been playing so well that this surely won’t be a comfortable game for the home side. The Copa del Rey finalists want to qualify for the Champions League, a competition that hasn’t visited Bilbao since the 2014/15 season, also with Ernesto Valverde on the bench. Reaching the Champions League once more is the big objective for this squad that in recent seasons has undergone a generational transformation, with players like Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes or Gorka Guruzeta now settled in the starting XI.Barca need a new pivot and Thuram III could be just what they’re looking forLos Rojiblancos arrive at the Bernabéu after two consecutive victories against UD Las Palmas and Deportivo Alavés, as well as a draw against FC Barcelona, results which have helped them overtake Atlético de Madrid. Athletic Club didn’t concede a single goal across those past three games and boast the second-best defence in the competition, with just 26 goals conceded. That is only bettered by the 20 goals let in by Real Madrid.There is some doubt as to whether Valverde, a week before the final of the Copa del Rey, will rotate his starting line-up or field the same players who’ll take on RCD Mallorca, but this season has shown that there is strength in depth in this squad and that they can take on any challenge. This is a top-of-the-table duel, one of several coming up in the next few weeks. In Matchday 32 we’ll be able to enjoy El Classico at the Bernabéu and in Matchday 33 Athletic Club will visit the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano to take on Atlético de Madrid. Those are two games that could decide the title and qualification for the Champions League, while another crucial encounter is the one between Ancelotti’s and Valverde’s sides this Sunday.
