La Liga highlights: Real Madrid beats Athletic Bilbao 1-0

Here are the highlights, score, updates and commentary from the La Liga encounter between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Updated : Jul 05, 2020 20:43 IST

Real Madrid will look to go seven points clear of Barcelona with a win against Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid will look to go seven points clear of Barcelona with a win against Athletic Bilbao.
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Real Madrid will look to go seven points clear of Barcelona with a win against Athletic Bilbao.

 

That's it for today. Thanks for tuning in!

MATCH REPORT |

With this win, Real Madrid stays at top of the 2019-20 La Liga standings with 77 points from 34 games, seven more than second-placed Barcelona, which has a game in hand against fifth-placed Villarreal later tonight.

Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao stays at eighth with 48 points and four games to go. It is currently a place below the Europa League spots, occupied by Villarreal, Getafe and Real Sociedad. Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are at third and fourth respectively.

AND IT'S FULL-TIME!!

90+5' YELLOW CARDS! There was a huge brawl towards the end of the match and Real Madrid players Dani Carvajal and Casemiro went into the referee's book. Athletic Bilbao players Yuri Berchiche and Iker Muniain were also booked.

90' Five minutes of stoppage time to be added on at the end of the second half! Inigo Martinez executes a long ball from his team's half. It was a dangerous one. But, after a brief struggle, the Madrid defence is able to avert the danger.

85' CHANCE AT BOTH ENDS! Athletic Bilbao star Mikel Vesga puts in a cross from the left. But none of his teammates are able to reach the ball. A Real Madrid counter-attack is on now as Lucas Vazquez takes the ball forward. However, the Madrid forward commits a foul on his way forward.

79' SEVERAL SUBSTITUTIONS IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES! Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane brings in Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez for Marcos Asensio and Rodryo respectively.  Meanwhile, his counterpart Garitano has brought on Oihan Sancet and Asier Villalibre for Dani Garcia and Inaki Williams.

73' GOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!! REAL MADRID 1 - 0 ATHLETIC BILBAO!!! SERGIO RAMOS SCORES FROM THE SPOT! Bilbao keeper Unai Simon had dived to the right direction but there was too much power on the ball. The Athletic Club players are still arguing with the referee.

71' AND IT'S A PENALTY FOR REAL MADRID!!!!!!!! The spot-kick wasn't initially given. Dani Garcia had brought down Marcelo inside the box. But the referee waved his hands. VAR check! After consulting other referees, the main decision-maker awarded a penalty to Real Madrid. Athletic Bilbao players are distraught.

68' BILBAO CHANCE! Raul Garcia lost the ball at the edge of the box. But his teammate Iker Muniain regains possession and delivers a fine lofted cross into the box. However, Sergio Ramos makes the clearance for Real Madrid at the right time.

62' DOUBLE CHANGE! Bilbao manager Gaizka Garitano makes two substitutions at one go. Oscar de Marcos and Mikel Vesga replace Inigo Cordoba and Unai Lopez in the middle. The second half has been more fast-flowing than the first.

57' WHAT A CHANCE! Bilbao star Raul Garcia almost beat Madrid shot-stopper Courtois with a wonderful shot. The rebound fell to Dani Garcia whose shot is blocked by his own player as the penalty box was crowded with players from both sides.

53' CORNER FOR REAL MADRID! Marco Asensio's swift movement on the right flank earns his side a set-piece. Luka Modric will take it but Inigo Martinez comes to his side's rescue. It's still goalless at the San Mames stadium.

48' CHANCE FOR MADRID! Dani Carvajal makes an amazing run on the right wing as he evades a few opposition player. However, during his attempt to find Rodrygo at the edge of the box, he was dispossessed by Yuri Berchiche.

AND THE SECOND-HALF IS UNDERWAY!

Forty-five minutes to go. Stay tuned!

AND IT'S HALF-TIME!

45+3' CORNER FOR ATHLETIC CLUB! Yuri Berchiche executes a cross into the box from the left flank. But Ramos clear the ball away. Raul Garcia will take the set-piece. But its a poor one as the Real Madrid defence clears the ball away with ease.

45' Three minutes of stoppage time to be added on at the end of the first half!  CHANCE! Marcelo puts in a cross into the box for Real Madrid. Benzema tries to get to the ball but there was too much power on the delivery as the ball goes out.

42' SHOT! Unai Lopez tries to put in a pass to a Bilbao player inside the box. Skipper Iker Muniain attempts to go for a shot on target but is blocked by Thibaut Courtois.

39' ANOTHER OFFSIDE! This time it's a Real Madrid player. French striker Karim Benzema is the person at fault. YELLOW CARD! Raul Garcia goes into the referee's book for a terrible tackle. He will miss his side's next La Liga game against Sevilla.

36' OFFSIDE! Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams was just a little too eager to get to Raul Garcia's pass from midfield. Eder Militao has been playing well today. He's compensating for Raphael Varane's absence.

33' FOUL! Athletic Bilbao is playing aggressive brand of football today. Unai Lopez commits yet another foul but he isn't booked again. A few moments ago, Inaki Williams had brought down Casemiro. Luka Modric will take the free- kick for Real Madrid this time.

27' FREE-KICK FOR MADRID! Unai Lopez brings down Federico Valverde in midfield. Asensio and Rodrygo get into a discussion behind the ball. The latter swings in a cross into the box but the Bilbao defenders clear the ball away with ease.

22' SUBSTITUTION! An early injury for an Athletic Bilbao player here and a centre-back comes in for a centre-back now. Yeray Alvarez makes way for Unai Nunez in the middle. Gaizka Garitano has been forced to make a change.

20' ANOTHER BRIGHT OPENING FOR ATHLETIC CLUB! And again this chance fell for Inaki Williams. He had to beat only Eder Militao at the edge of the box to go one-on-one with Real Madrid keeper Courtois. But Militao did well to regain possession for his team.

16' BRILLIANT SAVE! BILBAO ALMOST SCORED!!! Ander Capa supplied a wonderful ball into the box and Raul Garcia was at the receiving end. However, Thibaut Courtois punched away Raul's shot to avert the danger for his side.

11' FOUL! Rodrygo made a quick run forward but he was dispossessed by a Bilbao player. Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, in an attempt to recover the ball, fouls Inigo Cordoba . The referee blows his whistle and it's a free-kick for the host.

7' VERY GOOD CHANCE FOR BILBAO! Inaki Williams received a wonderful pass from Raul Garcia inside the box. But the Athletic Club forward's shot is blocked by Real Madrid left-back Marcelo.

5' WHAT A CHANCE!!! Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema's move forward almost materialised for Real Madrid. The visitor won a free-kick at the edge of the box. Asensio took it. Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon made a decent save. The rebound fell to Benzema whose shot missed the target.

AND THE MATCH IS UNDERWAY!

The team line-ups are out!

REAL MADRID XI: Thibaut Courtois (G), Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos (C), Eder Militao, Marcelo, Federico Valverde, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Rodrygo.

COACH: Zinedine Zidane.

SUBS: Alphonse Areola (G), Isco, Gareth Bale, Luka Jovic, Lucas, Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Junior, Mariano, Brahim Diaz.

ATHLETIC BILBAO XI: Unai Simon (G), Yuri Berchiche, Inigo Martinez, Yeray Alvarez, Ander Capa, Raul Garcia, Unai Lopez, Inigo Cordoba, Iker Muniain (C), Inaki Williams, Dani Garcia.

COACH: Gaizka Garitano.

SUBS: Iago Herrerin (G), Mikel Balenziaga, Oscar de Marcos, Gaizka Larrazabal, Ibai Gomez Perez, Kenan Kodro, Mikel San Jose, Lekue, Oihan Sancet, Asier Villalibre.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Real Madrid can open up a seven point lead over arch-rival Barcelona when it takes on Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga on Sunday.

Zinedine Zidane’s team had capitalised on Barcelona’s recent slip-ups to open up a four-point gap, following a 1-0 victory over Getafe on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Athletic Club has been in impressive form since returning to action after the lockdown period, winning three, drawing two and losing just one of its six matches in Spain's top flight.

READ |

However, with the Catalans not in action again until Sunday evening in another tricky game away to fifth-placed Villarreal, Los Blancos will be desperate to take another step towards the Spanish title.

Gaizka Garitano's side is currently eighth in the table, just four points off sixth-placed Getafe, which appears to be battling Villarreal, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid for two Champions League spots.

The reverse fixture between the two clubs, played at the Santiago Bernabeu in December last year, had ended in a goalless stalemate.

Eden Hazard will miss Real Madrid's game away at Bilbao. Manager Zidane hopes the Belgian will play again this season but has confirmed that he is feeling pain again in his troublesome right ankle.

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