Preview: Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid

The first away match of the month is in the always very difficult San Mames stadium, where Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao will battle for three important points. The Whites can earn their tenth road win in league play as well as reduce the lead held by Barcelona one week before the Classic at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Jose Mourinho is already thinking of the four Classics against Barcelona. His obsession is how to play the Catalans and one of the options he likes, it is to play with three forwards, the system that gave him a pass to the Champions League final last year with Inter. Today in San Mames, he could test the three strikers with Higuain, Cristiano and Adebayor.

Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo and Adebayor

Mourinho won the game against Guardiola a year ago in the Champions League semifinal tie and did it with three forwards: Eto'o, Pandev and Diego Milito. Now he can do it with Real Madrid. Portuguese could put back Özil's position to join him with Xabi Alonso and Diarra or Khedira, leaving three players to attack with freedom.

In Bilbao, it seems to play Lass, by German midfielder flu, while Di Maria will stay on the bench because he is apperceived for penalty. Moreover, Argentine player ended the match against Sporting tired and can rest after his efforts against Tottenham. Without Benzema, Mou will bring up all his artillery, with Cristiano and Higuain in the wings and Manolito Adebayor as '9'.

The Portuguese coach has felt comfortable with a 4-3-3 system that gave him the triplet last season at Inter. To join Özil with Xabi Alonso and a one defensive midfielder may be a solution to have more possesion of the ball, using the vertical velocity of Cristiano and Higuain (Benzema could come by the Argentine when he recovers) and a '9' to help in pressure; Adebayor. Is this the Mou's plan for the Classics?

Currently fifth in the table, Athletic Bilbao needs a victory to continue believing team can make it into next season's Europa League or even the Champions League. Going in its favor is the fact the match is at a sold-out San Mames, where Bilbao has won ten matches and lost five this year. Joaquin Caparros (Bilbao coach) called up 19 players, including Susaeta and Aitor Ocio, both of whom sat out last weekend against Almeria. Meanwhile, Amorebieta, Igor Martinez and Jon Aurtenetxe are injured and unavailable.

Notes

• Mourinho should distribute rests and minutes, and it is likely that the core of the defense in San Mames will be Albiol and Pepe (suspended for London) And it is possible that Marcelo, who played 'injured' against 'Spurs' will stay on the bench.
• In Bilbao, players dream of repeating the last year feat when they won with a solitary goal from Fernando Llorente. In Madrid, they need a victory to stay alive in the league.
• Iker Muniain. Bilbao small forward suffers physical problems from Monday's game against Almeria and will be uncertain until the last moment at Caparros' starting lineup.