Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in a no-show in the 19th round of the Spanish league at the San Mames stadium in a match that was played earlier than originally scheduled, due to the presence of the two clubs in next year’s Spanish Super Cup. In the Basque Country, the star of the team led by Xabi Alonso from the sidelines, Kylian Mbappe, “shone”, the French star scoring twice and providing an assist for the second goal of the team from the Spanish capital. Thanks to this success, the “Galactics”, thanks to this success, have come a long way in the general standings from their great rival, FC Barcelona, while the Basques remain in eighth place.
“Los Blancos” played away from home for the fifth time in a row in all competitions, this time against Athletic Bilbao. The players trained by Xabi Alonso came into this match after a series of three draws recorded in LaLiga away, against Rayo Vallecano, in a goalless match, in the company of Elche, with a final score of 2-2, and against Girona, in a duel that ended with a win for each side. However, in the last five official matches played by Real Madrid in all competitions, in addition to these draws, a defeat suffered against Liverpool, respectively, a triumph obtained against the Greeks from Olympiakos, had been ticked.
On the other hand, the team coached by former FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, prior to the start of this match played in front of their own fans, had defeated Levante in Valencia by two goals, had drawn in the UEFA Champions League at Slavia Prague, had lost to FC Barcelona, and, at the “San Mames” arena, their most recent performance had ended with a narrow 1-0 victory over Real Oviedo. The home team coach did not have Yeray Alvarez, Oihan Sancet, Inaki Williams and Prados Diaz, among others, available for this match. His counterpart could not rely on the services of Daniel Carvajal, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Dean Huijsen at the time of this LaLiga duel.
The previous season, in the Spanish championship, on their own field, the Basques had won against the “galactics”, with only one goal making the difference, and at the “Bernabeu” stadium, the Madrid group would win in the last minutes, thanks to a sensational goal scored by Federico Valverde. “Los Blancos”, before the game in the Basque Country began, were in second place, four lengths behind the Catalans from FC Barcelona, while Athletic Bilbao occupied eighth place, four points behind the last qualifying place in the European cups.
Nico Williams was applauded on the open stage by the supporters of the team coached by Ernesto Valverde for obtaining the trophy dedicated to the most beautiful goal scored in November in the domestic championship. The first important goal chance belonged to the guests, who started the game furiously, and Kylian Mbappe shot from close range, to the short corner, but Unai Simon parried the ball. The same goalkeeper of the Spanish national football team intervened decisively a few sequences later, when, after advancing with the ball at his feet, Vinicius Junior tried to finish from a distance, but the Basque goalkeeper opposed the execution.
Subsequently, the French star of the group from the capital of Spain took over from Inigo Lekue, easily overtook the right-back of Athletic Bilbao, climbed towards the opposing goal, and, not being attacked by any opponent, decided to shoot strongly into the far corner. His execution shook the net of the Basque goal, and the opening of the score would be recorded from the very beginning of the confrontation at the “San Mames” stadium. Vinicius Junior was launched by the scorer of the first goal of this match, but the Brazilian footballer’s shot was cleared from near the goal line by Aymeric Laporte, the Spanish stopper keeping his team in the game.
Ernesto Valverde’s side had their first chance of the game late in the first half, when Nico Williams’ cross was met by Gorka Guruzeta, but the Basque centre-forward’s shot went over the bar. Thibaut Courtois made a decisive save later on when Alex Berenguer was left alone with the Belgian goalkeeper, but he was unable to finish off the hosts’ quick-fire effort. The second goal of the game came in the 42nd minute, when Federico Valverde’s clever pass found Trent Alexander-Arnold, who crossed to the far post. Kylian Mbappe headed the ball for Eduardo Camavinga, who slotted home from close range to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Mikel Jauregizar put the Belgian goalkeeper to work, at which point, from about 25 meters, he decided to shoot hard, Thibaut Courtois having to clear the ball from under the crossbar to keep his goal intact. Kylian Mbappe “came out on the ramp” once again in this confrontation, when, not being marked, he shot unstoppably between the posts defended by Unai Simon, signing the “double” and offering peace to the team he plays for. Federico Valverde, when the clock showed eight minutes left in regulation time, was on the verge of scoring, but the Basque goalkeeper blocked the Uruguayan player’s execution.
Real Madrid achieved success on foreign soil, in LaLiga, for the first time after three “failed attempts”, and the three points won bring the team from the “Bernabeu” closer to their Catalan rival, FC Barcelona. Athletic Bilbao currently holds eighth place and has recorded two triumphs in the last five duels in which it has been involved, the next stage bringing a match against Atletico Madrid, in “its own home”, unlike “los blancos” who return to the Spanish capital to “face off” with Celta Vigo.