Toni Kroos and Nacho hit the crossbar before Luka Jovic hit the post in a frustrating 0-0 draw for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao.
Match Report
Real Madrid allowed Barcelona to take an advantage into LaLiga's mid-season break after Athletic Bilbao held them to a second goalless draw in a week.
Following Wednesday's stalemate at Camp Nou in El Clasico, Zinedine Zidane's men drew a blank once more against their obdurate Basque opponents.
Toni Kroos and Nacho hit the crossbar either side of half-time and substitute Luka Jovic struck the base of the post with four minutes to play.
Champions Barca lead their great rivals by two points after 18 matches, having dispatched Alaves 4-1 on Saturday, while Athletic edge up to seventh and remain firmly in the European hunt
Standings
Match Events
19' OFF THE BAR! Kroos almost scores
Kroos comes within inches of handing Madrid the lead. The German runs through the middle of the Bilbao defence and tries to fire the ball into the roof of the net, only to see his effort come off the underside of the bar and bounce out.
30' So close from Benzema!
Modric angles a cross with the outside of his boot towards the run of Benzema, but Lekue makes an important header at the back post to clear behind away from the Frenchman.
43' OFFSIDE! Kodro scores but goal is disallowed
Vesga threads the ball through the legs of Militao towards Kodro on the edge of the box. The forward takes a touch and drills his effort past Courtois into the top-left corner.
However, his celebrations are short lived as the flag goes up for offside. Kodro was inches offside.
56' Militao goes off injured
Militao is forced off with his eye injury and is replaced by Nacho.
59' CROSSBAR! Nacho almost scores
Kroos swings the corner into a dangerous position and Nacho gets there ahead of Martinez to head at goal. However, his effort cannons off the bar before Ramos fouls Simon from the follow-up.
65' NO PENALTY! Mendy tackled down in penalty area
Mendy surges into the box down the left flank and takes a touch inside. He goes down under pressure from Lekue, but the referee is not interested in Madrid's appeals for a penalty.
71' What a hit by Bale!
WIDE! Bale turns with menace from the right flank to cut in to shoot on his left foot. He curls an effort towards goal, but his attempt drifts wide of the left post.
86' POST! Jovic almost scores
Carvajal puts a fine cross into the middle for Jovic to rise and head at goal. He directs his effort towards the far corner. It looks to be heading into the bottom-left corner, but it clips the inside of the post and bounces out.
Erickson1009
4484
Hey Zizo,, 0-0 is good vs Barcelona Not vs all teams 😅
Erickson1009
1370
United lost Juventus lost Madrid held still Ronaldo still suspended in the air waiting for that cross to come through ... A merry Christmas to all of us who waited for AIR Ronaldo to land but didn’t realise Lazio weather was too strong
DaMhztourage
917
Expectations : Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Reality : R. Madrid vs Woodwork + Simon 😂😂
Nadan7
680
If denied by the woodwork was an excuse game , Real Madrid is Jose Mourinho The Special of it
Hiubcelmyz
504
I am not expecting Zidane to start Vinicius,Bale should have start,second half substitution is better for Vinicius, Zidane had made a great mistake,Madrid need to Walk on goal scoring. Hala Madrid.
lungs
491
vinicious should be immediately loan out. Bale is mostly useless. Jovic is just a decoration. Madrid should buy a goal converting machine ASAP😞
DaMhztourage
457
No dull moment for the entirety of 90mins + yet the two teams could not find back of the net , for Madrid , the draw will feel like lost as the result means a dropped 2 point and advantage to Barcelona who brushed aside Alaves 4 : 1
temidre
412
We know the owner of the league. They are back on top alone. Madrid will only try they can’t win the league. How do u want to win a league with Benzema as ur major striker, Vinicius that will see he goal post and get scared, calvajah that I can’t remember the last time he had an assist or witj mendy that don’t know what to do with ball. This season is also a waste. Am already thinking about next season. Hakimi needs to be our major right back and that good for nothing calvajah as back up even in the spainish national team he doesn’t even start anymore. We need full backs that have sense not this once’s we are using now. 1 goal in 3games for Real Madrid. All Benzema is looking for is one touch even won’t even calm Down to see if someone is on him or not he jes want to play once touch. With Benzema as our only striker nothing for Madrid this season.
Nadan7
409
Official; Real Madrid name has been changed to Real Drawdid 😉
Ali_LB
359
Did anyone else notice that Ramos turned Valverde to a center back in the last 10 minutes and he played as a striker😂
J-Miky_Ola
168
Is this the Atletic Bilbao Barca played against?? How did they win us with this their useless gameplay n tactics.. I dont know if RM were unlucky of Atletic Bilbao were lucky
Trevorn
158
Dominate the match, create a lot of chances, wizardry passing and skills to beat defenders,fail to convert the chances created, draws or loses the match - The Madrid way.😒🤦🏽♂️ From dominating Barca start to finish to this.😐
KeepGen
115
7 draws in 18 match with just 1 loss, plus Ramos going forward as striker in the last 6mins with valverde defending shows how much we need goals from our strikers. Benzema hardly converting 1 or 2 chances from atleast 6-7 clear chances in a match cant be a main man for madrid. Lets be honest, we need tons of goals that CR7 scored in the past, we cant be comforting ourselves with just few leakage goals from our Main man Benzema.
nenadp
15
Hey Zizo,, 0-0 is good vs Barcelona Not vs all teams 😅
Last game they blamed the referee today they blame the woodwork.... next game maybe the weather!!