With silverware out of reach and second place already secured, Real Madrid will look to close their La Liga season with a victory when they welcome Athletic Club to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday 23rd May 2026 as confirmed by the club on their official x handle.
Saturday’s fixture carries extra emotion as it is expected to mark the final match in charge for Álvaro Arbeloa, ending a difficult campaign for Los Blancos. Despite moments of quality throughout the season, Madrid failed to secure a trophy and surrendered the title race to rivals FC Barcelona, who confirmed the championship earlier this month.
Madrid head into the match following a narrow 1–0 win over Sevilla and remain one of the strongest home sides in the division. Their record at the Bernabéu has been a major positive, collecting 46 points from 18 league matches and maintaining consistency even during an underwhelming campaign overall.
Attention has already started shifting toward the future, with reports suggesting José Mourinho is set to return to the Bernabéu and could be officially announced next week. If confirmed, it would mark one of the most talked-about managerial returns in recent club history and signal the beginning of another major rebuild.
Athletic arrive in Madrid enduring a disappointing season of their own. After finishing fourth last campaign and competing in Europe, the Basque side dropped sharply and will miss continental football entirely next season.
This match is also expected to be the final game in charge for Ernesto Valverde before departing this summer, with Edin Terzić already lined up as his successor.
Although the result will not change the standings, the occasion carries significance for both clubs — one saying goodbye to a coach and preparing for a new era, the other hoping to leave behind a season that never truly met expectations.
Team news
Vinicius Junior is not expected to be involved for Real Madrid on Saturday, with the attacker set to link up with the Brazil squad to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Rodrygo (knee), Arda Guler (hamstring), Eder Militao (hamstring) and Ferland Mendy (thigh) will also miss the match, but club captain Federico Valverde has been cleared to feature, having recovered from the head injury that he sustained in a recent clash with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Valverde and Tchouameni could start in the middle of midfield, while Vinicius’ absence could open the door for Franco Mastantuono to feature in the final third alongside Brahim Diaz and Kylian Mbappe.
As for Athletic, Nico Williams (hamstring), Oihan Sancet (muscle) and Yuri Berchiche (suspended) are definitely out of Saturday’s contest with Real Madrid.
As for Athletic, Nico Williams (hamstring), Oihan Sancet (muscle) and Yuri Berchiche (suspended) are definitely out of Saturday’s contest with Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Unai Eguiluz (knee), Unai Gomez (muscle), Dani Vivian (ankle) and Benat Prados (knee) need to be assessed before final decisions on their availability can be made.
Inaki Williams and Alex Berenguer are once again expected to operate in the wide areas on Saturday, but there could be a change in the final third, with Robert Navarro potentially being introduced.
Possible Lineups
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Brahim, Mbappe, Mastantuono
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Gorosabel, Alvarez, Laporte, Boiro; Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar; I Williams, Navarro, Berenguer; Guruzeta
How to Watch
The match will be shown live around the world. Fans in Spain can watch it on DAZN LaLiga.
| Channel | Kickoff Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| DAZN LaLiga | 20:00 | May 23, 2026 |
| SuperSport LaLiga | 20:00 | May 23, 2026 |
| ESPN+ or beIN | 14:00 | May 23, 2026 |
Predictions
Softfootball predicts Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid will want to give their supporters something to cheer on the final matchday of the 2025-26 campaign.
