The highly anticipated Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid fixture on Matchday 19 promised high intensity, and it delivered a statement performance from the reigning champions. Real Madrid stormed San Mamés on Wednesday night, securing a emphatic 0-3 victory that keeps them within touching distance of league leaders FC Barcelona.
Coming off three consecutive draws, the pressure was mounting on manager Xabi Alonso. However, the Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid matchup proved to be the turning point, as Kylian Mbappé (2) and Eduardo Camavinga dismantled the Basque defense.
A Fast Start at The Cathedral
The atmosphere at San Mamés was electric, but the visitors silenced the crowd early. In the 7th minute, the first major moment of this Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid duel saw Mbappé capitalized on a precise long ball. The French forward cut inside and fired past Unai Simón to make it 0-1, setting the tone for the evening.
Athletic Club attempted to respond through the pace of the Williams brothers, but they found Thibaut Courtois in imperious form. The Belgian goalkeeper produced two crucial saves to deny the hosts an equalizer, proving once again to be Madrid’s safety net.
Camavinga Doubles the Lead
Just as Athletic began to grow into the game, Madrid struck a psychological blow. In the 42nd minute, Eduardo Camavinga rose highest to meet a cross, heading home to double the advantage. The goal sent the teams into the break at 0-2, leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb.
Mbappé Seals the Deal
The second half saw Athletic push high in search of a lifeline, but this only created space for Madrid’s counter-attack. In the 59th minute, Mbappé scored his second of the night—a spectacular strike from outside the box that effectively ended the contest.
With this brace, Mbappé extended his lead in the Pichichi race to 16 goals, cementing his status as the decisive factor in this season’s Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid encounters.
League Implications
The result was vital for the visitors. With FC Barcelona defeating Atlético de Madrid 3-1 earlier in the day, anything less than a win would have seen Xabi Alonso’s men drift further from the top spot.
“We knew how difficult the Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid games always are,” Alonso stated in his post-match press conference. “To win 0-3 here requires character, and today the team showed exactly that.”
Match Summary:
- Fixture: Athletic Club vs. Real Madrid
- Result: 0-3
- Goals: Mbappé (7’, 59’), Camavinga (42’)
- Stadium: San Mamés, Bilbao
Real Madrid will now head into the Spanish Super Cup with renewed confidence, while Athletic Club must regroup to continue their fight for European spots.
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