Eibar have been one of the pleasant surprises of La Liga this season, reaching Spain’s top division for the first time in the club’s history and so far holding a mid-table position throughout the campaign. They’re not completely safe, though, and every point they can earn will be huge.
Real Madrid vs. Eibar 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
With Real Madrid likely looking to their midweek tilt with Atletico, Eibar might just have a chance to cause a huge upset.
Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
It’s unlikely that any points will be coming their way, though, because they’re making the journey to the Santiago Bernabeu to face giants Real Madrid. The defending Champions League winners thumped Eibar 4-0 in November in the Estadio Ipurua, and it seems unlikely that Eibar will better that result -- unless they can take advantage of several missing Real Madrid starters and the capitol club’s potential distraction of the Champions League quarterfinal match against cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
It will take a lot of work and a lot of luck, but maybe, just maybe, Eibar can shock the world and put one heck of a feather in their cap for their first La Liga campaign. Wouldn’t that be something?
Key player - Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
With no Toni Kroos, and no James Rodriguez, Modric is going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting for Real Madrid in this match. That could prove problematic for Los Merengues, as Modric’s form has been pretty up-and-down of late. If he has a good match, they should be golden. If not -- well, at least Eibar aren’t Barcelona.
Key Matchup - Real Madrid vs. their attention span
Eibar have impressed this season, staying clear of the relegation zone all year long despite this being their first top-division campaign in the almost 75 years that the club has been around. That said, they’re simply nowhere near as good as Real Madrid are, so it’s entirely possible that with a huge Champions League quarterfinal match against Atletico Madrid just a few days away, they could easily find themselves looking ahead at that instead of the match at hand. If that happens, this plucky Eibar side could give them a bloody lip and another setback in the La Liga table, something Madrid can ill afford right now.
Real Madrid injuries and suspensions
Out: James Rodriguez (suspended), Toni Kroos (suspended), Pepe (hamstring) In doubt: list
Eibar injuries and suspensions
Out: None reported. In doubt: Angel, Eneko Boveda (unspecified)
Madrid are without two heavyweights in attack and midfield after James and Kroos all picked up yellow cards in their midweek match against Rayo Vallecano, though they won their appeal over Cristiano Ronaldo’s yellow card that would have seen him suspended. It was shown to him for diving, though replays showed clear contact bringing the Portuguese megastar down. Still, it wouldn’t have been shocking to see all three rested for this match anyways with a Champions League quarterfinal match against rival Atletico Madrid looming at midweek.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. local
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
TV: beIN Sports (U.S. & Canada - English), beIN Sports Español (U.S. - Spanish), Canal + Liga/HS (Spain)
Online: be IN Sports Connect (U.S. & Canada)
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