The lack of a goal condemns Athletic Club against Real Madrid

Athletic Club lost against Real Madrid (1-0) the match he played this Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu, corresponding to the postponed match of the 9th day of LaLiga Santander. The Madrid team reinforces its leadership, while lThe rojiblancos remain eighth with 20 points.

In the first minute of the game, Ferland Mendy gave a soft ball to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, which Iñaki Williams was about to reach. Benzema warned twice, in the 7th and 11th minutes, but goalkeeper Unai Simón was well placed to clear the French forward’s spikes. Already in the 23rd minute, Éder Militao miscalculated on a long ball and touched the ball with his shoulder, leaving Williams dead for the hand-in-hand, but Militao himself recovered well and touched the ball just enough to take it off for a corner. A similar play, a minute later, but this time with a failure by David Alaba, left the Athletic Club striker alone against Courtois, but he stumbled in control and lost the chance.

A great save by the Real Madrid goalkeeper at Raúl García’s shot saved the 0-1. Athletic Club forgave, and Real Madrid took the lead with a Benzema goal (1-0) at minute 40; Luka Modric’s false shot, after a shot by Asensio, fell to the French striker to score at pleasure.

The rojiblanco team went for the tie in the second half, and had several occasions to achieve it; However, the lack of aim and the stops by Courtois prevented Athletic Club from joining the Bernabéu. Dani García was about to score in the 60th minute, but Lucas Vázquez avoided the goal by ultimately dropping to the ground. Nine minutes later Unai Nuñez touched the center of Muniain with his head, and the ball narrowly missed the goal defended by Real Madrid.

In minute 75 Courtois reappeared in a shot by Oihan Sancet in the small area and 10 minutes later Militao saved a shot from Vesga with his face almost over the goal line. Already in the extension, Athletic Club put the fear of Real Madrid in a lateral foul that no rojiblanco player could finish. In the end, victory for Real Madrid (1-0).

Datasheet:

1 – Real Madrid: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez (Nacho, m.80), Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Casemiro, Modric (Valverde, m.70), Kroos (Camavinga, m.80); Marco Asensio (Rodrygo, d.63), Vinicius y Benzema.

0 – Athletic Club: Unai Simón; Lekue (Óscar de Marcos, m.46), Nuñez, Yeray, Balenziaga; Zarraga, Winner (Nico Williams, m.63), Dani García, Iker Muniain (Berenguer, m.69); Raúl García (Oihan Sancet, m.69) and Iñaki Williams.

Goals: 1-0, m.40: Benzema.

Referee: Díaz de Mera (Castilian-Manchego Committee). He admonished Modric (m.68) and Casemiro (m.78) by Real Madrid. In Athletic, Zarraga (m.30), Lekue (m.43) and Iñaki Williams (m.78).