Real Madrid secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in a tense La Liga Matchday 32 clash at the Santiago Bernabéu. Desperately needing all three points to stay in the title race, Los Blancos left it late, with Federico Valverde scoring a stunning stoppage-time winner that broke Bilbao’s resistance.
Despite the narrow scoreline, it was a display of tactical discipline and defensive solidity from Carlo Ancelotti’s men. While creativity was lacking at times, Madrid managed to control possession and limit the Basque side’s attacking threats throughout the game.
Thibaut Courtois enjoyed a relatively quiet evening in goal. The Belgian shot-stopper wasn’t called into action during the first half as Bilbao offered little going forward. When tested in the second half, Courtois produced two important saves that preserved his clean sheet.
Eduardo Camavinga filled in at left-back once again and did his job with professionalism. Though out of his natural midfield position, the Frenchman was defensively sound and ensured that very little came through his side.
Antonio Rüdiger had a solid performance at the heart of the defense. Bilbao didn’t pose many problems offensively, allowing Rüdiger to stay composed and focus on set-piece opportunities, where his aerial presence stood out.
Youngster Raúl Asencio continued to grow in confidence with another mature showing. Like Rüdiger, he didn’t have much to do in the first half, but in the second, he was more active in duels and used his pace effectively to shut down danger.
Federico Valverde was the undoubted hero of the night. Starting at right-back, the Uruguayan once again showcased his incredible work rate and versatility. In the dying moments, after being moved into midfield, he unleashed a brilliant long-range strike in the 93rd minute to snatch victory for Madrid.
Aurélien Tchouaméni also turned in a decent shift. Playing further up the pitch than usual due to Bilbao’s deep block, the defensive midfielder was involved in ball recovery and pressing high up the field.
Dani Ceballos, returning from a muscle injury, struggled to make an impact. His passes were inconsistent, and he missed several opportunities to create danger with his deliveries. Ancelotti substituted him early, likely to manage his fitness.
Luka Modrić, though no longer the youngest legs on the pitch, still displayed his footballing intelligence. His passes helped link play, and his vision was key to keeping Madrid’s tempo alive, even if he couldn’t fully control the game.
Jude Bellingham, who thrived in this system last season, had some promising moments going forward but couldn’t find the breakthrough. He remained heavily involved in buildup play but lacked the final spark in front of goal.
Vinícius Júnior brought energy and determination to the attack. With Kylian Mbappé absent, the Brazilian winger took on extra responsibility and tried relentlessly to make things happen, though he was often let down by his finishing.
Rodrygo Goes, however, failed to make a strong impression. Deployed alongside Vinícius in a 4-4-2 formation, the 24-year-old frequently drifted out wide and had little influence in the box. He did manage to get a few chances, but none were converted.
This match against Athletic Bilbao wasn’t about style—it was about grit and finding a way to win. Real Madrid showed once again that they can grind out results, especially when every point counts in the final stretch of the season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to push Valverde back into midfield proved decisive. The Italian tactician has often been criticized for being too conservative, but his timely tactical tweak made all the difference on the night.
It wasn’t Madrid’s most convincing performance, but it was one full of determination and composure. The players remained patient, and the team as a whole refused to panic, knowing the opportunity would eventually come.
As the Bernabéu held its breath in added time, Valverde’s goal unleashed a wave of celebration across the stands. It was a reminder that in football, sometimes one moment of brilliance is all it takes to change the course of a game—or even a season.
