Real Madrid to take on Bilbao in La Liga (Preview)

Real Madrid will take on Athletic club Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday in a football match where tired legs could be a deciding factor.

While Real Madrid have had five days to recover from a Champions League win at home against Legia Warsaw on Tuesday, Bilbao had to travel to face Belgian side Genk on Thursday, leaving them two days less to recover, reports Xinhua.

The Basque side, who are sixth in the table and just three points behind Madrid, suffered an setback to their European hopes when they lost 0-2 against Genk in a game which also saw them lose key players through injury.

Young central defender Yeray and veteran striker Aritz Aduriz, who has five goals so far this season, both suffered twisted ankles and will miss the trip to the Bernabeu stadium here.

They join full back Oscar de Marcos (groin) and Mikel Balenziaga (suspended) who are also out of the game and Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde will have a problem in organising his defence.

Madrid also have their injuries with Luka Modric, Casemiro and Sergio Ramos while coach Zinedine Zidane will also make rotations to his side with Dani Carvajal coming in at right back for Danilo.

--IANS

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