Prime Highlights
- Federico Valverde’s late 93rd-minute goal gave Real Madrid a vital win.
- The victory puts Madrid in contention for the La Liga title, four points adrift of Barcelona.
Key Facts
- Real Madrid remains second in La Liga with 69 points.
- Athletic Club, with a weakened team, remains fourth with 57 points.
Key Background
In reply to their Champions League defeat at the hands of Arsenal, Real Madrid welcomed Athletic Club to a La Liga title showdown as they looked to preserve their own title hopes. The game was a real test of the team’s character, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side required a satisfactory answer to past disappointments.
The first half was a test for Madrid, who could not break through Athletic’s defense. Eduardo Camavinga also had a clear chance, but his attempt was properly defended by Unai Simon. Jude Bellingham was similarly close, with another Simon save coming from the buildup off Vinicius Jr.’s pass.
Vinicius Jr. believed he had scored, in the second half, but his goal was ruled out for being offside during the phase of play. Bellingham again could have won the match but failed to score, even after such near misses. Nevertheless, Madrid continued with its attempts to score.
Federico Valverde made a piece of magic in stoppage time by scoring a top-corner volley that won the game. Aside from giving Madrid three points, the goal showed the commitment of the team to battle for the title. Ancelotti was impressed by the resilience of the team and also showed why Valverde’s goal mattered.
The win assures Real Madrid’s prospects to stay in the hunt for the La Liga title, setting up a season-defining run of the season with the coming Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. The team’s capability to recover from adversity will prove to be decisive to its title hopes.
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