Los Blancos will end 2025/26 without a major trophy, while Athletic Club are on track for their lowest finish since ending the 2017/18 campaign in 16th place.
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Can José Mourinho bring the good times back at Real Madrid?
With nothing to play for but pride in the final league game, thoughts turn to the 2026/27 season.
It is looking increasingly likely that José Mourinho will return for a second spell at the Bernabéu, 13 years after he left first time around. Reports are stating he will sign a two-year deal with his former club.
Make no bones about it, this isn’t the same Mourinho which guided Porto and Inter Milan to Champions League titles. Nor the same manager who won a third Premier League title with Chelsea and guided a post-Fergie Man United side to three trophies.
Although leading Benfica to an unbeaten league season, Mourinho’s side could only finish third. There is no doubt that Madrid and Florentino Pérez require a big personality to get the dressing room back onside, but is Mourinho the right answer?
Only time will tell. A big summer awaits the 15-time European champions as they look to return to the summit of Spanish football.
Athletic Club are undergoing change of their own
This summer, Ernesto Valverde is stepping down as manager. The 62-year-old has managed Athletic Club on three different occasions and the clash against Madrid will be his 504th and final game in the dugout.
His greatest achievement was leading Athletic Club to the Copa del Ray trophy in 2024 and he will be replaced by former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzić.
Terzić won the German Cup during his first spell at Dortmund, before coming close to Bundesliga and Champions League glory across his second stint, finishing runner-up to Bayern Munich in 2023 and Madrid in 2024 respectively.
It’s a bold appointment, especially considering the 43-year-old hasn’t managed in two years, but will it pay off?
Although only three points separates Los Leones with Getafe in seventh, who hold the final European spot, it looks as though San Mamés won’t be seeing any continental action next season.
Perhaps this could be a blessing in disguise for Terzić.
Team news
In what is Álvaro Arbeloa’s last game in charge of Madrid, he will be without several players. Éder Militão and Rodrygo are long-term absentees and will also miss the World Cup.
Elsewhere, Ferland Mendy, Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos, Arda Güler and Andriy Lunin will also be unavailable.
For Athletic Club, Nico Williams, Unai Egiluz, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian and Beñat Prados remain absent ahead of the trip to the Bernabéu.
Prediction
Both managers will be looking to end the season on a high and seal all three points. Madrid won the reverse fixture 3-0 in December and Arbeloa will be desperate to end with a victory.
Don’t be surprised, however, if Valverde manages to escape Madrid with a point or three in what is his final game in charge of Athletic Club.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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