Real Madrid travel to the San Mames on Saturday to take on Athletic Bilbao, who are surprisingly just 16th in the La Liga standings.
Given the way the champions performed at home against 18th-placed Malaga last week, Bilbao’s low place on the league table is no guarantee of a Madrid success, although they will still be strong favourites for the clash.
Here are three talking points ahead of the game.
ZIDANE UNDER PRESSURE?
Winning back to back Champions League titles and last season’s La Liga crown has earned highly respected and well-liked Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane more credit in the bank than would usually be afforded to occupants of the hottest of hotseats at the Bernabeu.
But even Zidane is now starting to be questioned after a highly unconvincing start to the season for Los Blancos, whose poor form continued in the past few days with a fortunate 3-2 home win over relegation-threatened Malaga and a scrappy 2-2 home draw against lower league Fuenlabrada in the Copa del Rey.
There’s certainly no suggestion that Zidane is currently close to being fired by trigger-happy president Florentino Perez, but a few more weeks of the current form could change. With his team looking poor all over the park, the French coach desperately needs to oversee a vast improvement between now and the New Year to avoid coming under the microscope – especially with runaway leaders Barcelona due to visit the Bernabeu in three weeks’ time.
How long before Zinedine Zidane has to start worrying about his job security?
ZIGANDA’S DAYS NUMBERED?
Zidane won’t be the only manager under pressure at San Mames on Saturday, with Athletic’s boss Cuco Ziganda rumoured to be nearing the sack following his team’s humiliating midweek cup exit against lower league Fortmentera.
The Basque club have desperately struggled to maintain their recent high standards following the departure of coach Ernesto Valverde to Barcelona in the summer, and they are heading into this weekend’s encounter stuck down in 16th position after gaining just three league wins so far this season.
A long-term injury to the team’s chief creative force Iker Muniain hasn’t helped matters, but Ziganda – who was previously the club’s B team boss before being selected to succeed Valverde – is expected to extract a lot more out of a talented squad containing highly rated players such as young goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (reportedly a firm target for Real Madrid), French defender Aymeric Laporte, gifted but erratic forward Inaki Williams and evergreen frontman Aritz Aduriz.
After a run of five league games without a win – and just one win in ten – victory against Madrid would be a perfect way for the Basque outfit to start turning their season around.
Ziganda needs a result to turn Athletic’s season around after their poor start.
WHAT NOW FOR GARETH BALE?
After two months sidelined by his latest in a long line of injuries, Gareth Bale made a long-awaited return to action by coming off the bench in the midweek cup clash with Fuenlabrada. And the Welshman made an immediate impression with practically his first touch by delivering a gorgeous assist for Borja Mayoral to equalise, rescuing a potentially embarrassing exit against the minnows.
However, Bale’s impressive and encouraging half-hour cameo display was quickly followed by reports that he had suffered yet another injury setback, and much to the frustration of Madrid fans the Welshman will miss Saturday’s game with a calf strain.
Bale remains a key player when he is fit, but his long-term future at the Bernabeu was already being questioned before this latest setback, with president Perez – who has always been one of the winger’s strongest advocates – reportedly deciding the Welshman’s persistent physical problems have made his continuity at the club untenable. If he now has another extended spell on the sidelines, it could signal the imminent end to his stay in Spain.
Back again, injured again – this time in the same game.
