In a match held at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, with Rodrygo scoring a goal in each half. This result solidified Real’s position at the top of the LaLiga table with 75 points, putting them eight points clear of second-placed Barcelona and 10 points ahead of third-placed Girona.
On the other hand, the loss dealt a blow to Bilbao’s hopes of securing a place in next season’s Champions League as they are currently only one point ahead of Atletico Madrid, who are set to play against Villarreal.
Rodrygo opened the scoring after just eight minutes, showcasing his skill with a well-placed shot into the far corner of the net after a confident run towards the box. The Bilbao defense failed to close him down, allowing the Brazilian winger the opportunity to make an impact early in the game.
Shortly before halftime, Aurelien Tchouameni came close to adding another goal for Real with a powerful header from a corner kick, but the ball narrowly missed the target. Despite the missed opportunity, Real maintained their lead heading into the second half.
In the 73rd minute, Rodrygo doubled his tally for the day after being set free on the wing by Jude Bellingham during a counter-attack. With time and space to maneuver, the Brazilian calmly guided the ball into the bottom corner of the net, securing Real’s victory.
Following his suspension, Bellingham returned to the lineup in place of Vinicius Jr, who was ineligible for the match due to accumulating five yellow cards. The young midfielder made a significant impact with his assist for Rodrygo’s second goal.
One of the highlights of the match came in stoppage time when Eder Militao made his return to the field for Real after being sidelined since August due to an ACL injury. The Santiago Bernabeu crowd warmly applauded the Brazilian defender, with manager Carlo Ancelotti expressing his delight at having Militao back in action.
Ancelotti emphasized Militao’s importance to the team, noting his status as one of the best defenders in the world. The manager highlighted the need for Militao to gradually regain his form and adapt to playing again, as Real enters the crucial final stretch of the season with important fixtures ahead.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid is set to host Manchester City in the first leg of their highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final on April 9. Ancelotti acknowledged the significance of the upcoming match while emphasizing the need for the team to bring more intensity and focus on their own game.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao will turn their attention to the Copa Del Rey final against Mallorca on Saturday. Manager Ernesto Valverde remained positive despite the loss to Real, emphasizing the team’s focus on the upcoming final and urging them to approach it with enthusiasm and motivation.
With both teams having important fixtures on the horizon, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the season for Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
