Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes his team faces one of their toughest challenges of the season as they travel to in-form Athletic Bilbao.
The Basque club have rocketed to fourth place after winning seven of their last nine league games, scoring 15 goals in their last three wins.
Although Bilbao suffered a blip in the Copa del Rey, going out at the quarter-finals after Wednesday’s 2-1 home defeat against Atletico Madrid, they remain unbeaten in the league at their new San Mames Barrio stadium.
Ancelotti is wary of the threat posed by Ernesto Valverde’s team, noting: “They are a great team, dynamic and dangerous, and playing very well at the moment. Valverde has done a great job and they always give their maximum. To win at the San Mames, we’ll have to give more than 100 per cent.”
Los Blancos are unbeaten in their last 20 games in all competitions – a sequence stretching back to the 2-1 Clasico loss against Barcelona in October – and another game without defeat would allow Ancelotti to surpass the longest unbeaten streak achieved by his predecessor Jose Mourinho.
The Italian boss is keen to avoid comparisons, however, focussing solely on the task of maintaining his team’s challenge on three fronts.
“We have a period of important games coming up,” he said. “January was a very good month and if we can repeat that in February, we could have a bright future.”
Ancelotti will be without Gareth Bale for tonight’s game, with the Welshman still struggling to overcome a leg injury sustained in last weekend’s victory over Granada.
“Bale isn’t available because he did not train on Saturday,” said Ancelotti. “On Sunday he will train to be ready for the game on Wednesday [against Atletico in the Copa del Rey]."
The former Tottenham midfielders absence could give rising star Jese Rodriguez his first league start of the season, and Ancelotti acknowledged the talented forward has already become an integral part of his plans.
“Jese’s place in the squad is already clear,” he said. “He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. We’re very happy with everything he has done.”
Another player who could be involved is Raphael Varane, who has been named in the squad after nearly three months with a knee injury.
