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MADRID, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid will take on Athletic club Bilbao in matchday nine of the Spanish Primera Liga season on Sunday evening in a game in which tired legs could be a factor.
While Real Madrid have had five days to recover from a straightforward Champions League win at home against a poor Legia Warsaw on Tuesday, Bilbao had to travel to face Belgian side Genk on Thursday night, leaving them two days less to recover.
The Basques, who are sixth in the table and just three points behind Madrid, suffered an important setback to their European hopes when they lost 2-0 against Genk in a game which also saw them lose key players through injury.
Young central defender Yeray and veteran striker Aritz Aduriz, who has five goals so far this season, both suffered twisted ankles and will miss the trip to the Bernabeu.
They join full back Oscar de Marcos (groin) and Mikel Balenziaga (suspended) who are also out of the game and Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde will have a problem in organizing his defense.
Real Madrid also have their injuries with Luka Modric, Casemiro and Sergio Ramos while coach Zinedine Zidane will also make rotations to his side with Dani Carvajal coming in at right back for Danilo.
