The highly anticipated La Liga showdown between Athletic Club and Real Madrid is set to light up San Mamés Stadium today, December 3, 2025. As two of Spain’s most storied clubs collide in the 2025-26 season, fans are buzzing about what promises to be a tactical battle between Basque pride and Galáctico flair. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET (6:00 PM UTC / 7:00 PM CET), giving supporters across the globe a mid-afternoon thriller to sink their teeth into.
This fixture isn’t just another league game—it’s a clash steeped in rivalry, with Real Madrid holding a historical edge but Athletic Club’s home fortress often proving impenetrable. With Real Madrid chasing the title and Athletic aiming to solidify their top-four push, every pass and tackle could shift the momentum.
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
- Time: 1:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CET
- Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain (Capacity: 53,331)
- Competition: La Liga 2025-26, Matchday 15
- Referee: To be confirmed (TBC)
Predicted Lineups
Based on recent form, training reports, and expert analysis, here’s how the teams could line up. Athletic Club are likely to stick with their compact 4-2-3-1 to frustrate Real’s attack, while Los Blancos opt for a fluid 4-3-3 to exploit the wings.
Athletic Club Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Unai Simón
- DEF: Iñigo Lekue, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche
- MID: Mikel Jauregizar, Beñat Prados, Oihan Sancet (if fit; otherwise Ander Herrera), Nico Williams, Alex Berenguer
- FWD: Gorka Guruzeta
This setup emphasizes defensive solidity with quick counters through Williams’ pace. Expect Vivian to mark Vinícius Júnior closely.
Real Madrid Predicted XI (4-3-3)
- GK: Thibaut Courtois
- DEF: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Álex Carreras
- MID: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham
- FWD: Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Ancelotti’s men will rely on Mbappé’s finishing (he’s netted 12 in 14 games this season) and Bellingham’s box-to-box energy. Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion adds creativity from set pieces.
These lineups reflect the latest squad announcements and could shift based on final warm-ups.
Score Prediction
Predicting this matchup is no easy task—Athletic’s San Mamés record against Real (unbeaten in seven) screams caution, but Madrid’s firepower tips the scales. Recent trends show low-scoring games between these sides, with under 2.5 goals in seven of the last eight head-to-heads.
Our verdict: Athletic Club 1-2 Real Madrid. Los Blancos sneak a win via a Mbappé penalty and a Valverde screamer, despite a late Guruzeta consolation.
