Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid preview - Keylor Navas eyes club goalkeeping record

Real Madrid travel to the San Mames stadium to face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday with Keylor Navas on the verge of breaking a goalkeeping record at the club.

The Costa Rica international, who joined Real last summer from Levante, has kept a clean sheet in Real's opening five games in all competitions this season.

Navas is now just 72 minutes away from beating Miguel Angel's club record of going 431 minutes without conceding, a mark which has stood since the the 1975/76 campaign.

"My job is precisely that," Navas said to Marca. "As long as I can keep doing it we will all be happy.

"I'm going to give my all so that we give away as few a goals as possible this season.

"Of course the fact that we have kept a clean sheet is also down to the work done by my team-mates, who have helped a lot and are defending well. Without them, I could not do it.

"This is why we are working hard. If there are shots, they need to be saved."

Navas almost did not have an opportunity to set the new record.

He was on the verge of joining Manchester United on transfer deadline day in a deal that would have seen David de Gea move the opposite way but both the moves were not completed.

"I had it very clear in my mind that I wanted to stay," Navas said. "Ever since I signed for Real, it was my dream.

"Obviously, I was very grateful that a great team like United showed an interest in me. But I felt I had not been given a chance at Real.

"What happened was complicated but I have left it all behind me and I'm trying to live in the present which thankfully is very beautiful and something that I've worked for."

Real have not won the Primera Division title since the 2011/12 campaign and have enjoyed a stronger start under new coach Rafael Benitez.

Since their opening goalless draw at Sporting Gijon, Real have won four straight games in all competitions.

Saturday's 1-0 triumph over Granada lifted Real to second place, level on 10 points with Celta Vigo, and they are two points adrift of defending champions and La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Karim Benzema scored for the fourth game in a row to hand Los Blancos their third win of the campaign.

Real will be without injured Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Danilo.

Athletic Bilbao have won one of their opening four league games and head into the contest on the back of a Sunday's 3-1 loss at Villarreal.

Ernesto Valverde's men have failed to keep a clean sheet in La Liga this season.

Athletic have collected four points from a possible six against Real in their previous two league games in San Mames and will be hoping to keep up that run on Wednesday.

"We haven't had a good start," Valverde said to Marca. "To have three points in the league is not much and the league is the one that tells you if you are in good condition or not.

"We need to start winning. I know we have Real coming up but we need to win."

Aritz Aduriz, who handed Athletic a 1-0 home triumph over Real back in March, has scored five goals in their last three games and will lead the hosts in attack.