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Valverde nets late winner as Real stay in title race, Mbappe booed by fans

  /  autty

Federico Valverde scored a sensational stoppage-time winner as Real Madrid earned a crucial 1-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao to keep their LaLiga title hopes alive.

Valverde's jaw-dropping half-volley deep inside stoppage time hurtled into the top corner and sparked wild celebrations around the Bernabeu.

The win saw Madrid move four points behind Barcelona with six games to go.

The league leaders had produced their own last-gasp heroics against Celta Vigo on Saturday after battling back from 3-1 down to score a 98th-minute winner.

It has been a rollercoaster week for Madrid and the atmosphere on Sunday was fractious, the club's Champions League humiliation still fresh in the minds of some.

After suffering a 3-0 thrashing against Arsenal in their quarter-final first leg, Madrid's dreams of another sensational remontada proved a damp squib as they went on to lose the reverse tie in Spain 2-1, piling the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti.

Madrid were without Kylian Mbappe against Bilbao with the striker serving out his one-match ban after being sent off in the 1-0 win at Alaves last weekend.

The superstar was given a frosty reception after sections of the crowd loudly whistled and booed when he appeared on the big screen at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe was sat up in the stands to watch the game and briefly came into shot.

In an awkward moment, the 26-year-old, wearing a brown jacket and dark cap, glanced up at the screen and seemingly realised the jeers were directed at him.

He has scored 22 league goals this season but the boos are likely to have been connected to the frustration over Madrid's embarrassing European elimination.

Mbappe was unable to make a meaningful impact over both legs and has often been heavily criticised for failing to track back to help out his team-mates.

Damningly, Madrid are unbeaten this season in LaLiga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey when Mbappe hasn't played - recording three wins and two draws.

Praising his side's display against Bilbao, Ancelotti said: 'The truth is that in the first half we had more control, we didn't suffer from Athletic's pressure.

'We didn't create any chances. The game was good, we didn't concede a goal, we were aggressive, united. There's good news, so let's see if we continue to improve.'

Despite the boos for Mbappe, Ancelotti also praised the crowd, adding: 'I had no doubt they would support us. They've been great as always.

'They, like us, believe we can achieve something this season.'