Real Madrid: 5 key players to watch against Athletic Bilbao

CB Eder Militao

Raphael Varane isn’t injured, but MARCA’s Pablo Polo reports that Zinedine Zidane will likely hold the star center back out against Bilbao as a precaution. Therefore, Eder Militao will start next to Sergio Ramos after closing out the win over Getafe.

Militao has been good this season, as his only truly poor performance in 2020 occurred at right back against Nabil Fekir and Real Betis. Basically, it wasn’t a fair matchup. He’ll be tested a little more against Bilbao, especially by club legend Inaki Williams. Militao needs to be smart and cover Williams’ runs, because he’s an experienced forward who knows how to find space and punish top clubs.

CM Toni Kroos

Admittedly, Toni Kroos didn’t have his best performance against Getafe, who did a great job of staying organized and preventing Kroos to have much of an impact on the game. His passes weren’t incisive as usual, and his pass completion percentage, per WhoScored.com, was actually under 90 percent.

Kroos will need to lead the way in midfield against Athletic Bilbao and find more teasing passes for the forwards, specifically Eden Hazard. It’s up to Kroos to be the man who gets everyone involved and keeps Real Madrid spread out enough offensively to have an impact. Quietly, he’s been one of the world’s best midfielders this year, but he needs to show it at San Mames.