Keeping their 100% record intact will be the first thing on Real Madrid’s mind when they welcome Athletic Bilbao, but that is going to be no easy task given that los Leones have also claimed maximum points so far.

With Gareth Bale’s proposed arrival at Santiago Bernabeu making the headlines, Carlo Ancelotti and his men couldn’t really fully focus on task at hand.

Real Madrid did enjoy a winning start to the league campaign, defeating Real Betis and Granada, but the manner in which those triumphs were achieved is a cause for concern.

Los Blancos experienced all sorts of problems in both of those games, and unless they show a massive improvement soon, they will not be able to continue their winning run.

Since this is the final game before a two-week international break, the hosts can be trusted to produce an extra effort, although odds of 1.18 (2/11) offered at Stan James on home win are not that tempting.

Still searching for his first goal of the campaign, Cristiano Ronaldo is 1.40 (2/5) at Coral to finally break the duck against Athletic.

Sami Khedira has resumed full training after recovering from a knee injury, but Xabi Alonso, Raphael Varane and Denis Cheryshev remain on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Lopez – Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo – Khedira, Modric – Isco, Ozil, Ronaldo – Benzema.

Following last season’s struggles that even saw them slip into the relegation tussle, Athletic were predicted a tough campaign, especially since they were to play all their home games at Anoeta.

The club chiefs, nevertheless, seem to have found a perfect man to replace Marcelo Bielsa, with Ernesto Valverde taking over the reigns this summer.

And while Fernando Llorente and Fernando Amorebieta both left, los Leones produced quite a coup by signing Benat Etxebarria from Real Betis, while also adding Kike Sola and Mikel Rico to their ranks.

Athletic in turn enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, recording back to back wins over Real Valladolid and Osasuna, so no doubt they arrive in Madrid full of confidence.

Los Leones might not be able to match their more illustrious opponents, but they look a good bet to score at least once, at odds of 1.80 (4/5) offered at Ladbrokes.

New signing Mikel Rico is in contention to make his debut, while Mikel San Jose has recovered from an ankle problem. However, Gorka Iraizoz and Borja Ekiza look set to miss out.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Iago – Iraola, Gurpegui, San Jose, Saborit – Benat, Iturraspe – Susaeta, Herrera, Muniain – Aduriz.

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