Benat Etxebarria's free-kick is headed on by Raul Garcia and Yeray Álvarez just misses as he tries to guide the ball into the net.

Cristiano Ronaldo then sees his low shot well saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Oscar de Marcos almost finds Inigo Lekue, but Keylor Navas is quickly out to clear.

Marcelo then concedes a a corner, but Ander Iturraspe heads over.

Watching replays of that Navas save, that was a crucial stop. Garcia stretched to poke the ball into the far corner, but the Costa Rican was at full stretch to tip the ball away with his finger tips.

Up the other end Cristiano Ronaldo, who has never scored at the new San Mames, has the ball in the net, but it is ruled off side.

Image source, AFP

Good effort by Raul García, who forces a diving save from the under-fire Keylor Navas. Athletic the win the first corner of the match, but nothing comes from the set piece.

Image source, AP

The home side are knocking the ball about very confidently as Cristiano Ronaldo gives away a foul with a high foot.

Under way in the San Mames.

Loving this cartoon by Marca.

It's illustrating a huge weekend in La Liga, aside from Real's visit to the Basque country, there is also Valencia v Barcelona and Atletico Madrid v Sevilla on Sunday.

Plenty of storylines in the San Mames today.

• Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde is one of the favourites for the Barcelona job.
• Sergio Ramos has been Real Madrid's saviour with his late goals this season and he secured the points against Real Betis on Sunday with an 81st minute winner.
• Real are without the injured Pepe and Raphael Varane. They have conceded 10 goal in their last six games in all competitions.
• Athletic Club's top La Liga scorer this season is 36-year-old Aritz Aduriz.
• Real Madrid have won  22 of their last 25 matches against Los Leones.

Image source, Getty Images

This will be a tough test for Real, as Athletic Bilbao have a formidable home record at the San Mames Stadium.

Ernesto Valverde's team, who are seventh in La Liga, have the second best home record in the league this season, behind Real.

Los Leones (the Lions) have taken 33 points from a possible 42, with 10 wins, three draws and a solitary loss, which came against Barcelona, back in August.

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid: Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale; Karim Benzema.

Athletic Bilbao:  Kepa Arrizabalaga; Oscar de Marcos, Mikel Balenziaga, Aymeric Laporte, Yeray Alvarez, Ander Iturraspe, BeNat Etxebarria, Raul García, Inaki Williams, Aritz Aduriz, Inigo Lekue.

Image source, Getty Images

Hola, 

Real Madrid can take a huge step towards their first La Liga title since 2012 this afternoon.

A win against Athletic Bilbao will move Zinedine Zidane's side five points clear of Barcelona, who play tomorrow.

And Los Blancos have the services of Gareth Bale today, who returns after a two-game ban.