Cristiano Ronaldo’s late flick saved Real Madrid from an embarrassing home defeat with a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao.
2017/2018 La Liga
1-1
The draw gave Athletic their first point at the Bernabeu since 2005, but could have had all three after leading for so long once Inaki Williams lifted the ball over Keylor Navas with 14 minutes gone.
Even before that, Real struck the bar when Ronaldo nodded beyond Kepa, and they were denied by a number of fine saves by the Bilbao goalkeeper.
In the second half, the hosts' lack of a final ball looked like it might leave them facing a fourth home defeat of the campaign until Luka Modric's 25-yard drive was touched in by Ronaldo's backheel to earn them an 87th-minute point.
Match Events
14' GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Athletic Club (I.Williams)
Athletic Bilbao take a 0-1 lead thanks to Inaki Williams. Just when their bright start looked to have dropped off, Athletic return as Cordoba's excellent through-ball sees Williams outpace Varane before chipping over Navas for the opener.
87' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Athletic Club (C.Ronaldo)
Goal! Cristiano Ronaldo levels the match at 1-1. Finally the pressure tells! De Marcos heads the ball behind for a corner, which is long and worked back in to Modric following in from outside the box. He drives goalwards and his shot takes a deflection off Ronaldo before nestling in the far corner.
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Keylor Navas, D.Carvajal, S.Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Vázquez, Asensio, C.Ronaldo, Benzema
Subs: Kiko Casilla, J.Vallejo, Theo, Casemiro, Isco, Kovacic, Bale
Athletic Club XI: Kepa, I.Martínez, Núñez, Lekue, De Marcos, Balenziaga, San José, Iturraspe, R.García, Córdoba, I.Williams
Subs: Iago Herrerín, Y.Álvarez, Beñat, Susaeta, Rico, Muniain, Aduriz