Real Madrid 1-1 Athletic Club: Era ends! Benzema scores in his last dance

Karim Benzema ended his 14 years with Real Madrid on a high note after he scored a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on the final night of the LaLiga season.

Match Report

The French striker confirmed he will leave the Bernabeu this summer on Sunday and the Real legend duly scored his 354th goal for the club amid emotional scenes.

He was withdrawn to a rousing standing ovation two minutes later as he prepares to move to Saudi Arabia.

Despite Benzema netting his 31st of the season, Real's draw saw them slip below rivals Atletico Madrid and finish third in the table.

Oihan Sancet gave Bilbao the lead four minutes after half-time after Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved an earlier penalty from Mikel Vesga.

The news that Benzema is leaving Real Madrid after 14 years to sign for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad was confirmed ahead of kick-off.

An official statement described the striker as a 'fundamental player in this golden age of our history' and as one of the club's 'greatest legends'.

Real plan to hold a tribute and farewell to their club captain in the city on Tuesday before he takes up a two-year deal worth a staggering £345million at the Jeddah-based club.

Al-Ittihad have just won the Saudi Pro League title, finishing five points ahead of Al-Nassr, whose team includes Benzema's erstwhile team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benzema has made over 600 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos, and is the club's second-highest goalscorer of all time, behind only former teammate Ronaldo.

Then-Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini brought Benzema to the Bernabeu in 2009 in a £30million deal after he had enjoyed a pair of prolific campaigns in Ligue 1 with Lyon.

The teenager initially struggled to hold down a place in the teams star-studded starting XI but ultimately went on to become an integral part of Real Madrid's dominance throughout the 2010s and beyond, winning every piece of silverware available to him.

After netting a career-best 44 goals in 46 games in the 2021-22 season Benzema became the oldest Ballon d'Or winner since Stanley Matthews, collecting the coveted honour in the same season he won his fifth Champions League trophy, a joint-record.

Though the veteran forward's most recent campaign has been curtailed by injuries, he still managed 18 La Liga goals in 23 games for Carlo Ancelotti's with the club currently second in the league.

The skipper's presence was also felt in the Copa del Rey, where he netted a hat-trick and notched an assist against Barcelona in the semi-finals second leg in a 4-0 win to overcome a 1-0 deficit, before playing 90 minutes in the final win over Osasuna.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

10' Penalty Missed! (Vesga)

24' Vinicius‘ shot stopped by Unai Simón

30' What a save from Courtois!

49' GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Athletic Club (Oihan Sancet)

56' What a save!

72' Penalty Goal! Real Madrid 1-1 Athletic Club (Benzema)

73' Benzema is subbed off with a standing ovation from a full house at the Bernabeu

89' CLOSE! Vinicius misses a golden chance!

90' Goodbye Asensio!

Line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Benzema, Kroos, Courtois, Nacho, Carvajal, Rudiger, Ceballos, Militao, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga

Subs: Modric, Alaba, Hazard, Vazquez, Mariano, Odriozola, F Mendy, Vallejo, Asensio, Valverde, Andriy Lunin, Aurélien Tchouaméni

Athletic Club XI: De Marcos, Herrera, Berchiche, I.Williams, Vesga, Unai Simón, Gorka Guruzeta, Dani Vivian, Oihan Sancet, Aitor Paredes, Nico Williams

Subs: R.García, Muniain, Balenziaga, Capa, Lekue, Berenguer, Oier Zarraga, Unai Vencedor, Julen Agirrezabala, Adu Ares, Unai Gómez, Junior Bita