Carlo confirms that Modric won't feature in tomorrow's game against Atlétic Bilbao. - Carlo Ancelotti: "Luka Modric will NOT be in the squad against Athletic. He will return against Schalke."
Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid's highest scorer against Athletic
He has hit the net against the Basques in each of his seasons at the Whites, scoring 14 times.
hletic-Real Madrid: it is without doubt one of the match-ups in Spanish football that boasts the most history. And it's a fixture in which Cristiano Ronaldo is now one of the star figures. After his hat-trick in the Whites' 5-0 win at the Bernabéu this season, the Portuguese is the club's highest scorer against Athletic in La Liga. With a total of 14, he is ahead of three Madrid legends in Hugo Sánchez, Puskas and Raúl, who hit 11 each against the Basque outfit.
What's more, Cristiano has taken just eleven games against Athletic to reach his mark of 14 goals. Since arriving at Real Madrid in 2009, he has scored against the team in each and every season, finding the net on three of his five visits to San Mamés.
His third most frequent scoring victims There are only two teams in La Liga who have been on the receiving end of more goals from the Real Madrid forward: Sevilla with 16, and Getafe with 15. This Saturday at San Mamés (6pm CET), Cristiano will have these tallies firmly in his sights.
Real Madrid complete their final session ahead of the Athletic
at Ciudad Real Madrid (Valdebebas)
Carlo Ancelotti oversaw a session with all the players in the squad except Ramos and James. Real Madrid underwent their last training session before their encounter with Athletic (Saturday, 18:00 CET). Carlo Ancelotti took charge of a work-out that included all the available first-team players. Ramos and James continue with their recoveries.
The opening minutes of training saw 'rondo' ball retention exercises. The squad divided into two groups to practise control of possession. The outfield players combined this with aerobic drills involving hurdles. Casillas, Keylor Navas and Pacheco did specific goalkeeper training.
Real Madrid are in action at San Mamés on matchday 26 of La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti has named 20 players in his Real Madrid squad for the La Liga matchday 26 encounter with Athletic at San Mamés (Saturday, 6pm CET).
REAL MADRID SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Casillas, Keylor Navas and Pacheco. Defenders: Varane, Pepe, Coentrão, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa and Nacho. Midfielders: Kroos, Bale, Lucas Silva, Isco, Khedira and Illarra. Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Chicharito and Jesé.
NEXT TRAINING SESSION:
Sunday 8 March at 11am CET, at Ciudad Real Madrid (behind closed doors).