Athletic Bilbao. Real Madrid

Furthermore, Madrid need to win. Barcelona are already three points ahead in the table and the race for the 2022-2023 La Liga title is expected to be a really ...

[ESPN+](http://go.web.plus.espn.com/0J9VgN?subId2=%5B%5Dsb%5Bp%5D23330222%5Bt%5Dw%5Br%5Dmanagingmadrid.com%5Bd%5DD) [Real Madrid](https://www.managingmadrid.com) visit Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames in what’s one of the most classic games in LaLiga. Furthermore, Madrid need to win.

Real Madrid will be hoping to get back to winning in La Liga when they travel to San Mames on Sunday evening to take on Athletic Bilbao.

“Real Madrid has been allowed to operate with a reduced allocation for too long.” [Massachusetts sports betting](https://www.masslive.com/betting/massachusetts/)is going mobile this Spring. Viewers looking to stream the game can do so with an [ESPN+ subscription](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587340&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fplus.espn.com%2Fes%2Fsoccer%3Fex_cid%3DDSS-Search-Google-71700000085522428-%26s_kwcid%3DAL%218468%213%21617261896936%21b%21%21g%21%21barcelona%2520game%2520live%26cid%3DDSS-Search-Google-71700000085522428-%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiAlKmeBhCkARIsAHy7WVs4tFZNPRWH7qZkvPu1iTIBXEXN12hd6clUam2qwvpdnKoFIr_rdpYaAtbIEALw_wcB%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds) which starts at $9.99 a month. Real Madrid will be hoping to get back to winning in La Liga when they face Athletic Bilbao. Use [FanDuel MA](https://www.masslive.com/betting/massachusetts/fanduel/)and [BetMGM MA](https://www.masslive.com/betting/massachusetts/betmgm/)promo codes to sign up Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 loss to Villarreal in their last league match on January 7, while Athletic was beaten 3-1 by Real Sociedad in their last top-flight contest on January 14.

Real Madrid hope to revive their La Liga title chase as they travel to eighth placed Athletic Club on Sunday for a top tier showdown.

The biggest issue for Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in this match is the continued absence of midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni who is missing for another few weeks with a calf injury. First Athletic play on the counter through Inaki Williams and win a corner but it comes to nothing. It's a dicey one for sure, and Berchiche will need to be careful, but there's probably not quite enough in that for VAR to overturn the call. 39th min: Athletic begin to ramp up the pressure in the attacking half, and win their fourth corner of the match. The referee only gives a yellow and VAR doesn't give it a look, but he'll certainly want to reign that kind of play in moving forward. The first is blocked but the second is on frame, and Unai Simon makes a great save! Athletic are in the clear ascendancy now, and Real Madrid are hanging on by a thread. The ball drops to him with nobody in the same zip code, and somehow he misses the target completely! On a corner, it's cleared but only to Yuri Berchiche who rips on frame from the top of the penalty area. The hosts have the ball in the back of the net, but it's disallowed! Gorka Guruzeta had a good scoring streak earlier in the season, but even things for him have dried up, and while he looked decent off the bench in this match, it wasn't enough to break Madrid hearts. Real Madrid keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table after the Blaugrana managed a drab 1-0 win over Girona earlier in the day.

Real Madrid stayed second in La Liga on Sunday after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0.

With 12 minutes left Athletic had the ball in the net. They have started to miss Casemiro of late, and either more so with Aurelien Tchouameni out injured. Rodrygo carried the ball forward and swapped passes with Valverde. Before the goal Athletic had enjoyed the best chance with Thibaut Courtois saving well from Aitor Paredes but Real Madrid were on top with Asensio giving Yuri Berchiche a difficult time. Vinicius was winding Athletic up and frustrating his manager in equal measure. The Uruguayan hung a hopeful cross into the area and Asensio’s looping header kept it in play.

The goals came from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos, but there was another player who must have been delighted with his performance and answered a lot of critics.

Rudiger’s performance vs Athletic Bilbao was certainly a step in the right direction. We all know what the German centre-back is capable of at his best. During his last 18 months or so at Stamford Bridge, he had been one of the best defenders in the world.

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Real Madrid (Benzema & Kroos). A win in Bilbao. Here is the reaction to the victory. On the way: Player ratings, presser highlights and ...

The slow pace of the game carried on into the start of the first half, but things soon picked up. The half really dried up in Madrid’s favour after this as they became comfortable with the ball and shut down any Bilbao attacks. Karim Benzema captained the team for this one. Here is the reaction to the victory. When you are trying to get yourselves out of a rut, a trip to Athletic Bilbao is never ideal - but Real Madrid would have to switch on and start regaining points in places like this if they wanted to be serious about the La Liga title race. On the way: Player ratings, presser highlights and the podcast.

Camavinga was spectacular in deeper midfield role while Nacho continues to impress at right back.

Fede Valverde—7: Was involved in both goals — the cross to Asensio for Benzema’s acrobatic finish and the link-up with Rodrygo prior to Kroos inch-perfect shot. He was a constant in Real Madrid’s build up through the left and central sides of the pitch. He was the all around midfielder and put in a great shift. Eduardo Camavinga—9.5: MOTM - playing as the lone pivot or defensive midfielder in a midfield of three, Camavinga was outstanding. Eder normally comes out on top and did today as well — was aggressive with his step-outs and looked just as fast as Inaki whenever placed in a footrace. The Belgian and Madrid defense kept Athletic off the score-sheet, despite an xG of 1.16.

Real Madrid's manager Carlo Ancelotti says he has 'no plan B', as once again the team's fringe players shone in Sunday's 2-0 win in Bilbao.

Ceballos has played just 527 minutes while Asensio has played 735 minutes, the fourth-most across Madrid’s front line after [Karim Benzema](https://theathletic.com/football/player/karim-benzema-hwC1BNv4TpEYmSmb/), Vinicius Jr and [Rodrygo](https://theathletic.com/football/player/rodrygo-JS0gfsSSMTJWAReh/). At one point in the match, Ancelotti engaged with him from the sidelines. This season he has 11 in 2,300. He substituted the Brazilian in the 83rd minute. There are moments when he gets a little bit distracted but he’s young.” At San Mames, no such racist abuse was heard, but the home fans certainly singled him out for attention. Along with defender [Nacho](https://theathletic.com/football/player/nacho-CrpeNMuE0s6cMrf0/), the two Spanish players have not been regulars this season. For Benzema’s spectacular opener, he sewed the play together in finding Madrid’s starting midfield, as of today, is difficult to predict. At San Mames, they ran out 2-0 victors and finally forgot about the so-called ‘Pintus valley’, the theory that Madrid regularly suffer a slump in January due to the physical training schedule directed by coach Antonio Pintus. He looked serious and tired, but is sounding increasingly confident. Not so long ago they called this game a derby because of the historic rivalry between Athletic and Madrid, and before kick-off, they greeted Carlo Ancelotti’s side with lots of percussion and mystical lights.