MADRID, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Both Real Madrid and Athletic Club Bilbao have key players missing for their clash in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but for once maybe the focus will be on a player other than Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema, but visiting striker, Aritz Aduriz.
Aduriz celebrated his 35th birthday on Thursday and he did so in the middle of the best season of his career. The powerful forward has netted 24 goals in all competitions this campaign and looks set to continue for a few years yet.
He will have to be at his best if Athletic are to overturn their recent results in the Bernabeu, however, the Basque side, who are currently sixth in the table, have won just once in their last 16 visits to Rea Madrid's home ground and will travel without the suspended duo on Inaki Williams and Mikel San Jose, while Raul Garcia is still recovering from a knee injury.
Real Madrid also have their injury problems with Gareth Bale suffering a relapse of his calf injury, while Marcelo is out after dislocating his shoulder last week and central defender Pepe has a foot injury.
That will see either Danilo or Nacho Fernandez cover at left back, but unless he decides to rest players ahead of the return to Champions League action it is hard to imagine Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane making too many changes to the side which has scored 16 goals in their last three home games.
Meanwhile Benzema will be looking to continue the form which has seen him score in his last 6 appearances.
Athletic are currently sixth in the table, while Real Madrid are third, four points behind Barcelona with an extra game played.
Saturday also sees Villarreal take on an improving Malaga, while Deportivo entertain Betis and Valencia play at home to Espanyol in a game in which both Valencia coach Gary Neville and Espanyol boss Constantin Galca have their jobs on the line.