Eibar vs Real Madrid: Preview, team news, possible XIs

Eibar - Real Madrid live online: LaLiga 2020-21

Eibar vs Real Madrid: Preview

Real Madrid will be chasing their fifth win on the trot in all competitions when they face Eibar on Sunday evening.

Two straight defeats against Alavés and Shakhtar Donetsk – which didn’t come long after a 4-1 trouncing by Valencia -- served as a major wake-up call for Zinedine Zidane and his players, who have since gone on to defeat Sevilla (2-1), Borussia Monchengladbach (2-0), Atlético Madrid (2-0) and Athletic Bilbao (3-1).

Next up is Athletic’s Basque neighbours Eibar at the Ipurua Stadium, where Madrid managed a 4-0 win last season. Considering Madrid have won five of six visits to Eibar, they will be hotly tipped to stretch their current winning streak to five. A win will put Los Blancos level on points with league leaders Atlético, who managed their ninth win from 12 games on Saturday against Elche. Although, Atléti will maintain a two-game advantage.

Zidane will welcome back Casemiro after the Brazilian’s one-match ban against Athletic, while Martin Odegaard, Luka Jovic and Mariano also come back into the fold after recovering from injury.

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Casemiro will likely start along with fellow veterans Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema, who will be looking for his seventh LaLiga goal of the season to put him tied in second in the race for the Pichichi (a race currently led by Gerard of Villarreal with eight goals). Luka Modric may be consigned to the bench in favour of Fede Valverde.

Eibar’s peculiar record

Still adapting to the loss of three stalwarts in Ivan Ramis, Gonzalo Escalante and Fabián Orellana in the summer, thirteen-placed Eibar have won just three of their 13 LaLiga fixtures this season, though José Luis Mendilibar’s side have gone on a five-game unbeaten run in LaLiga, albeit by securing fours draws, with one victory.

Peculiarly Eibar’s away record has been much better than their showing at the Ipurua this season. On their travels, Los Armeros have picked up 11 of their total 15 points, with all of their three victories coming away from home (including a commendable win at Sevilla). They have picked up just four points from seven games on their home turf (four draws, three defeats).

If Eibar are to pull off a surprise win against Madrid, they will be looking to 19-year-old man of the moment, Bryan Gill, who has been a stand-out performer in Mendilibar’s team this season.

Eibar possible XI vs Real Madrid

XI: Dmitrovic, Arbilla, Bigas, Pozo, Kevin Rodrigues, Sergio Alvarez, Diop, Edu Expósito, Inui, Bryan Gil, Kike García

Subs: Yoel, Rafa Soares, Unai Dufur, Roberto-Olbae, Recio, Kadzior, Pedro León, Unai Arieta, Muto

Real Madrid possible XI vs Eibar

XI: Courtois, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal, Mendy, Casemiro, Valverde, Kroos, Lucas Vazquez, Asensio, Benzema

Subs: Lunin, Atlube, Odriozola, Nacho, Militao, Marcelo, Modric, Odegaard, Rodrygo, Jovic, Mariano

Eibar vs Real Madrid: Injuries and suspensions

For Real Madrid, Vinicius was a last-minute omission with the young Brazilian not training on Saturday due to a stomach bug. Zidane will also be without Eden Hazard (muscle injury) and Isco, who picked up a knock to his ankle in training and has been ruled out.

The home side will be without Jose Angel, Cote, Rober Correa, Sergi Enrich and Quique Gonzalez, while Estaban Burgos has a red-card suspension for the game.

Eibar vs Real Madrid: What the managers said

Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid): "I'm sure that Eibar are going to give everything tomorrow at their place and that's what we’ll be aiming to do too. We want to keep this run going. All of the players are focused and in good shape. It's another opportunity for us to show who we are as a team and that’s what we’ll be trying to do tomorrow. It's a very important game. We feel as if we're performing better, but it won't be an easy match. It’ll be a tough game and we’ll need to be at our best”.

José Luis Mendilibar (Eibar): "If we start to hesitate, if the forward starts by not wanting to go and press or if the defender stays instead of supporting and if we create spaces between the lines, they won't put three past us, they will score eight (…) We are facing a competitive Madrid (...) They know how to bring out the competitive vein when they need it. When they really compete, it is very difficult to beat them. Right now, they have no weaknesses.”

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Eibar vs Real Madrid: Form Guide LaLiga

Eibar vs Real Madrid: Head-to-Head (last 5 games)