Real Madrid traveled north to the Basque Country to face Athletic Bilbao\u00a0at San Mames on Sunday evening, another crucial game in their tightly-fought battle with Atletico Madrid for the league title.<\/p>\n
Los Blancos are neck-and-neck with their city rivals – who play Osasuna in Madrid at the same time Madrid face Athletic – and are second in LaLiga, two points behind Atletico and two clear of third-placed Barcelona. They need to beat Athletic, always an unenviable task at their place, and hope Atletico drop points to Osasuna, which would then place Madrid in the driving seat heading into the final game of the season, where they face Villarreal at Valdebebas.<\/p>\n
Much of the pre-game talk, however, has been on the future of Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane The renowned Frenchman has been linked with making an exit this close season, a year ahead of the expiration of his contract in the summer of 2022. It\u2019s been rumored he\u2019s jaded and believes that the club would benefit from a new presence in the dugout.<\/p>\n