Real Madrid 'missing 11 players for Athletic Bilbao game as COVID cases rise'

Real Madrid will be without as many as 11 first-team players for Wednesday's La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao.

Los Blancos are suffering from a COVID-19 outbreak within their squad, having recorded eight positive tests within the last week.

The club have confirmed that David Alaba and Isco are the latest to have been struck down by the virus, joining Luka Modric, Marcelo, Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Rodrygo and Andriy Lunin in testing positive.

Of those, Modric has since returned a negative test, but he continues to suffer symptoms and will miss Wednesday's match at San Mames as a result.

With Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos currently sidelined through injury and Casemiro suspended, Carlo Ancelotti will be missing 11 players for his side's final game of 2021.

The Spanish giants will also be without assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, who has tested positive for coronavirus too.

Real Madrid saw their 10-match winning streak come to an end with a frustrating 0-0 draw with Cadiz on Sunday, but they remain five points clear at the top of La Liga.