Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-2 in the last round of the Spanish championship, following the goals scored by Gonzalo Garcia, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Gorka Guruzeta, Brahim Diaz and Izeta. In the last match played in the jersey of the “los blancos” formation, Daniel Carvajal provided a decisive pass and was applauded for minutes by the supporters present in the arena of the Spanish capital. In turn, David Alaba played for the last time in the jersey of the “galactic” group and received an incredible warmth from the people present in the stadium.
Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao faced each other in the 38th round of the Spanish league, a round that coincided with the last matches played by both clubs in the current season, in all competitions. Before this game that took place at the “Bernabeu”, the “Los Blancos” group had the mathematical advantage of securing second place in the general standings.
The Basques were coming into the match after having considerably reduced their chances of qualifying for the European Cups next season, following the draw they made at home against Celta Vigo. The duel that took place in the Spanish capital was a very special one for Daniel Carvajal and David Alaba, players who will leave Real Madrid at the end of this competitive season. Also, the coaches of both teams, Alvaro Arbeloa and Ernesto Valverde, were at the last match in which they led their players from the sidelines.
The “Galacticos” had recorded two consecutive victories before this match, which were recorded against Real Oviedo and Sevilla, respectively, without conceding a goal. In the match played in the round of this championship edition, at “San Mames”, Athletic Bilbao lost to the Madrid team, by three goals, Kylian Mbappe, with a “double”, and Eduardo Camavinga, bringing the triumph to the group that was prepared at the time by Xabi Alonso. This match was played during a busy period, domestically, for Real Madrid, as a result of the presidential elections that were recently called.
Florentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme secured their places in the electoral final at the end of which it will be decided whether the team from the Spanish capital will continue with the current leader of the club or if it will be time for a change at the “helm” of the “los blancos” formation.
Since 2006, the Real Madrid president has not been elected through an electoral “battle” between two candidates. Also during this period of time, there has been increasing discussion about the verbal agreement between Jose Mourinho and the “Bernabeu” team regarding the appointment of the Portuguese coach as the team’s technician for the next three seasons.
Daniel Carvajal, at the end of an incredible reception he received from the “los blancos” pitch, rewarded the love he received from the Real Madrid fans with an exceptional assist that destabilized the entire Athletic Bilbao defense, and, at the end, Gonzalo Garcia was the one who took over and easily beat Alex Padilla with a shot sent wide. Thiago Pitarch “tried his luck” with a shot from inside the penalty area, when a ball was cleared by the opposing defense, but the Spanish footballer’s shot was caught by the goalkeeper.
The second goal of this match was scored a few minutes before the final whistle of the first half, when Jude Bellingham received a ball in free space from Thiago Pitarch, took over and shot powerfully, from a volley, into the short corner, to beat the opposing goalkeeper. As a result of this goal he scored, the English footballer reached two consecutive successes that he has scored in the confrontations played by Real Madrid on his home field in as many matches. The Basque team reduced the gap on the scoreboard when the three minutes of extra time for the first act appeared, Gorka Guruzeta firing an unstoppable volley into the far corner from Inaki Williams’ cross.
The second half began with a huge chance that the visitors missed, with Robert Navarro receiving a ball in the box and finishing with a shot into the far corner, after a successful dribble. However, his execution narrowly avoided the goals defended by Thibaut Courtois. Kylian Mbappe tried to surprise Alex Padilla with a shot that the French footballer sent from a long distance, but his attempt to double the advantage of the “los blancos” group went beyond the frame of the opposing goals. However, immediately afterwards, the player from Hexagon made his way through several opponents and scored with a placed shot that he sent to the blade of the grass.
Jude Bellingham came close to scoring the double in the 57th minute when the Englishman received a pass from Gonzalo Garcia on the edge of the box and fired into the centre of the Basque goal, but Alex Padilla intervened promptly and cleared the danger. The match took on a more emotional tone in the 83rd minute when Daniel Carvajal left the pitch in tears, playing his last game for Real Madrid.
Brahim Diaz, who came on during the match, scored Real Madrid’s fourth goal in the game, after the Moroccan footballer received a ball in the box from Kylian Mbappe and easily finished from a few meters, the success being validated a few seconds later, after a possible irregular position was checked. Izeta reduced the handicap in the 91st minute of the confrontation, when he capitalized on a pass from Inali Williams. The victory recorded by the “los blancos” group was the third in a row in the Spanish championship, and the group from the Spanish capital ended the season in second place in La Liga, while the guests finished the domestic competition in 12th place with a total of 45 points.