Gareth Bale returns from a two-match suspension as Spanish leaders Real Madrid aim to move five points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga. The Wales forward, 27, is named in Zinedine Zidane's 20-man squad for the trip to seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao. Defensive trio Raphael Varane, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao are all injured. Victory will give Madrid a healthy advantage - ahead of Barcelona's game against Valencia on Sunday - as they aim to win a first La Liga since 2012. Madrid took advantage of Barca's surprise loss against Deportivo La Coruna with a late 2-1 win against Real Betis last weekend to move back above their arch-rivals. And they have played a game fewer than the Catalans because of their involvement in the Club World Cup earlier in the season.

However, Athletic have the second best home record in the Spanish top flight, having won 10 and losing just one of their 13 league matches at San Mames this season. "I don't know if victory is enough to all but win us the league because there are many games to go, but they are three very important points for us," Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said. "We know we will suffer, but we are working hard, we are confident, we have personality and we will need all those ingredients to win there."