Karim Benzema scores exquisite volley as Real Madrid chase Barcelona in La Liga table.
2022/2023 La Liga
0-2
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' CHANCE! Benzema's shot wide out
10' CLOSE! Aitor Paredes' header denied by Courtois
17' NICE TRY! Nico Williams' long shot inches wide
20' Asensio goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
24' GOAL! Athletic Club 0-1 Real Madrid (Benzema)
50' Yellow Card! Berchiche booked
58' Yellow Card! Dani Vivian booked
62' Yellow Card! Eduardo Camavinga booked
66' MISS! Asensio's shot inches wide
69' What a miss! Nico Williams' shot wide out
78' OFFSIDE! Inaki Williams' goal disallowed
79' Yellow Card! Vinicius booked
88' CLOSE! Benzema's header wide out
90' GOAL! Athletic Club 0-2 Real Madrid (Kroos)
Match Report
Real Madrid stayed second in La Liga on Sunday after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring with a classy volley into the bottom right corner in the first half before Toni Kroos added a safety goal in the 90th minute.
The result means Real stay three points behind league leaders Barcelona, who beat Getafe earlier in the day.
Real Madrid have kept up the La Liga title pressure on rivals Barcelona thanks to a routine 2-0 win at Athletic Club.
Xavi’s league leaders won 1-0 at home to Getafe, to increase the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions in Bilbao, as they kicked off later.
Los Blancos captain Karim Benzema slammed home a superb opener on 23 minutes as the visitors struggled for fluency before the break.
The home side carried an inconsistent threat after the restart, but Real Madrid looked to have a second goal in them in Bilbao, as they clinched all three points in the final minute of normal time.
A counter attack was worked to substitute Toni Kroos on the edge of the box and the former German international curled home the clincher.
Up next for Ancelotti’s side is a crucial Copa del Rey quarter final derby against Atletico Madrid in midweek with La Real hosting Mallorca.
Line-ups
Athletic Club XI: De Marcos, Berchiche, I.Williams, Vesga, Berenguer, Unai Simón, Dani Vivian, Oier Zarraga, Oihan Sancet, Aitor Paredes, Nico Williams
Subs: R.García, Muniain, Balenziaga, Herrera, D.García, Capa, Lekue, Asier Villalibre, Gorka Guruzeta, Jon Morcillo, Unai Vencedor, Julen Agirrezabala
Real Madrid XI: Benzema, Courtois, Nacho, Rudiger, F Mendy, Asensio, Ceballos, Valverde, Militao, Vinicius, Eduardo Camavinga
Subs: Modric, Kroos, Mariano, Odriozola, Vallejo, Andriy Lunin, Rodrygo, Luis López