Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night. The match is full of excitement. Real Madrid had to battle hard to secure a 2-1 win over Athletic Club in Madrid and grab the sole possession of the top spot in La Liga’s standings in the process.
Real Madrid lead the table on 21 points, while Sevilla are second on 20 after Steven Nzonzi’s second-half strike gave them a 1-0 win over 10-man Atlético Madrid, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Diego Simeone’s side, who slid to fifth on 18.
In the mid of 1st half,REAL MADRID didn’t let up after their early lead, and Toni Kroos fired a shot on goal after a loose ball fell to him near the box, where a good save from goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the next man to go close, dashing forward through the defence. Marcelo picked out Bale inside the box after a sensational passing move, but the Welshman lifted his header too high.
Ronaldo feels Bernabeu’s brunt:
Ronaldo has suffered their wrath before and endured it again when he fired merely at Gorka Iraizoz with a host of teammates begging for the cross that would have led to a tap in.
His influence on the pitch is waning and has been for a while, but until now he still had the goals to back up his status.
A return of four in nine appearances isn’t bad for your average striker, but it is by a distance Ronaldo’s worst return in a Real shirt at this stage of the season and there are no signs his strike rate is about to reach its old heights.
Ronaldo fired another shot wide, and Bale couldn’t find a team-mate with a cross before the visitors pulled level through Sabin. Inigo Lekue, a first-half standout, dribbled past Isco and Marcelo before firing a cross into the box, and while Eraso couldn’t get his touch right, Pepe pushed the ball into the path of an unmarked Sabin.
ATTACK INDEX:
MANCHESTAR UNITED ATHLETIC BILBAO
50% BALL POSSESSION 50%
2 SHOTS 1
6 CORNERS 4
Emerging characters in the match:
- Birthday boy Morata came off the bench to score in the second half..
- Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid an early lead at the Bernabeu.
- But Sabin Merino netted a shock equaliser for Bilbao before the break.
- Victory over Athletic Bilbao sent Real Madrid back to the top of La Liga.
- Alvaro Morata netted a late winner for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao.
It was a thrilling weekend in Spain with leaders Atletico Madrid losing to Sevilla, tumbling to fifth place, while their opponents moved up to second.
Barcelona are third after a thrilling 94th minute 3-2 win over Valencia, while Madrid needed a late winner themselves to win for the first time in three attempts at home in the league.
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