Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club are set to lock horns on the 20th of April for their final clash of the season, With plenty of history between these two clubs, they look set to record another memorable match-up with plenty on the line.
With Real Madrid being arguably the biggest and most successful club in the world, they’re a stark contrast to the extremely insular Bilbao club, who instead focus on self-sustaining finances and an emphasis on the importance of local recruitment, which always makes for an interesting conversation surrounding matchdays.
It is worth taking a closer look at what this latest clash could have in store for fans of both sides, as well as explore the history surrounding the teams. After all, there are players who have spent time at both clubs which is part of what makes this rivalry such a unique spectacle. And if you are interested in keeping up to date with the latest results, they are available on AskGamblers, giving you an opportunity to get ahead of any new rivalry controversy.
The Contrasting Background of Both Clubs
A far cry from what they once were, the team we know as a dominant force in European football, Real Madrid used to be know as the Madrid Foot-Ball Club, and was founded way back in 1902. With an emphasis placed on ‘Galacticos’ football over the past few decades, the capital city side has signed some of the best players in the game’s history, including Alfredo Di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as current icons such as Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappé.
In contrast to Real Madrid, Athletic Club has always felt humble. Despite having been born from Bilbao’s industrial boom and British influence, the club and the surrounding region have remained intrinsically linked. Athletic Club have a Basque-only recruitment policy, yet the club has still won an impressive eight La Liga titles and 23 Copa del Rey cups. While some people are opposed to the recruitment policy, the fact that the club has achieved so much with only local players makes these achievements all the more remarkable.
A Historic Rivalry: El Viejo Clásico
There’s certainly a strong cultural clash between the two clubs, with Real Madrid representing the centralized power of the Spanish state while Athletic Club is the living embodiment of Basque autonomy, which was a point of tension that noticeably peaked during the reign of right-wing dictator Francisco Franco.
On the pitch, the two teams couldn’t be any more different. With the Bilbao club only recuperating players who have been born or raised in the Basque region, although they sometimes make exceptions for players with parents or grandparents from the region, they position themselves as a strong cultural staple. In comparison, Real Madrid has a reputation for signing the best players for the highest prices, much to the dismay of football-loving purists, of which many Bilbao fans are.
Players Who Bridged the Divide
Several players have spent time with both clubs. While this is somewhat of a rarity due to the differing transfer policies of both teams, there are some noteworthy examples.
One of the better-known players to have spent time at both clubs is Kepa Arrizabalaga, who started his career in the Basque region before heading to Chelsea and eventually making the switch to Madrid on loan to replace the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Another player who made the switch is Rafael Alkorta, who spent the entirety of his playing career in Bilbao, aside from a four-year stint in the capital, where he played a total of 107 league matches. However, upon ending his career, Alkorta entered the world of sports administration and at one time served as Athletic Club’s sporting director, having previously served as the assistant manager to former Madrid teammate Míchel at Olympiacos and Marseille from 2014 to 2016.
Our final notable pick when looking at players who played at both clubs is Aitor Karanka, who younger fans may best remember for managing in England from 2013 to 2021. After growing up in the Basque city of Vitoria, Karanka came through the ranks at the club and spent four years with the first team before heading to Madrid and spending five years in the capital, although he then returned home during the latter part of his career.
Match Day Predictions: 20th April 2025
While the aim is always to qualify for the Champions League, even the most steadfast Bilbao supporter will admit that they have one eye on their Europa League run. The fact that the club is currently sitting in fourth place with a decent buffer on both sides indicates that this has the potential to be an incredible clash.
Below is how the two teams could line up, although, with a few weeks between the time of writing and the match itself, injuries and suspensions could have an impact on how they appear on the day of the match itself.
Real Madrid:
Courtois; Vazquez, Rudiger, Asencio, Fran Garcia; Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Endrick Felipe, Vinícius.
Athletic Club:
Agirrezabala; Lekue, Vivian, Paredes, Adama Boiro; Galarreta, Prados; I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams; Guruzeta.
While Real Madrid has all of the firepower that fans would expect, this season has been a strange one for the Madrid faithful, with the team only clicking into shape over the past few months, having struggled during the first half of the season due to changes in style and personnel.
Despite Athletic having a great chance of completing an upset due to the current run of form they have found themselves in, we still believe that the sheer talent at the disposal of Carlo Ancelotti will give his side the edge. We’re going with a closer-than-expected 2-1 win for the home side.
Final Thoughts
Both clubs are incredibly rich in history, culture and past success, and while they differ in terms of recent silverware and success, both fanbases are incredibly proud of their clubs, and the next clash should be one for the ages.
With Athletic currently sitting in fourth at the time of writing, just two places behind league chasers Real Madrid, there’s a great chance that the Basque club can pull off an upset and give the Bernabeu another reason to complain.
So, for fans wanting to enjoy a clash between two top sides, we’d recommend tuning in and enjoying everything these two teams have to offer.
