Athletic Club 1-1 Real Madrid: match report - LaLiga Santander 2018/19
A Muniain goal after 32 minutes was cancelled out by Isco's header in the second half. Real Madrid slip behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.
Athletic Club 1-1 Real Madrid: match report
Three wins and a draw. Not a bad return from the first four games for new manager Julen Lopetegui. However, with main rivals for the Liga title maintaining their 100% start to the season earlier in the evening, Real Madrid are already playing catch-up, not something that they faired well at last season.
Right from the off, Berizzo's troops showed their hand. Hard work and appropriate pressing across the length of the pitch, and the constant threat of hitting on the break quickly when the ball was stolen, would serve them well all night. Madrid had more possession but attempts at goal were equal going into half-time. The big difference at that point, however, was a 32nd minute goal for the hosts, as Iker Muniain tapped home a scuffed effort from Iñaki Williams.
Lopetegui had begun the game with Casemiro and Isco on the bench and Dani Ceballos had been given the nod, with the coach knowing the creative value of the lad he worked with in the younger ranks of the national team. In hindsight, the difference seen after the introduction of the two substitutes (Modric the other to make way) suggested that more solidity in the middle of the field would actually have given a better platform for attacks. We'll never know if it would have played out that way.
Moments after Isco came on, Los Blancos were level. A fine cross from the generally ineffective Gareth Bale was met in front of Unai Simon with a neatly glanced header. More chances came and went - Athletic continuing to hunt on the counter - but there was to be no more scoring.
Berizzo will be pleased with how his side matched their more illustrious guests. Lopetegui will know that there is still work to be done to polish this 'new' Madrid. He'll also know that any rough edges that may remain on young Marco Asensio are harder and harder to spot.
Read on to find out how it all played out live at San Mamés.
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid live online: as it happened
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid live online: preview
Three games, three wins. Julen Lopetegui's first trip to San Mamés as Real Madrid mamager suggests his most difficult challenge so far but it would take a brave person to bet against a victory for the visitors, who are in confident mood. This is the 50th game between the two sides with Athletic having won 11 and drawn three. A 32nd win for Los Blancos will be needed though to keep pace with title rivals, Barcelona.
Athletic Club
The side from Bilbao have not beaten Madrid in their last 17 encounters. The last time they took all three points was in the 2014/15 campaign when Ernesto Valverde masterminded glory over Carlo Ancelotti. But even so, there are reasons for the home fans to feel positive as they head to San Mamés on Saturday evening.
Four points from their opening two games (their fixture against Rayo was postponed) has been a reasonable return for Eduardo Berizzo and the Fifa break has given players like Íñigo Martínez and Aduriz time to recover. In fact, only three of the Bilbao squad left for international duty, with the others working on the training ground in preparation. This gap could have allowed an element of rustiness to creep in but Berizzo organised a closed-doors friendly with Valladolid to minimise this.
Starting XI: Unai Simón, I.Martínez, Yeray, Beñat, Williams, Muniain, Yuri B., Susaeta, Dani García, De Marcos, Raúl García.
Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo was the biggest story of the summer transfer window as he departed for pastures new in Turin. But, with each week that passes, and those that he left behind step up to replace his goals, the ripples dissipate. Ahead of the fourth week of Liga action, Bale and Benzema were the leading front pairing, as they take on their own roles, out of the shadow of the Portuguese striker, and with the guidance of their new manager.
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Whereas their hosts could be concerned of lack of competitive playing time in the 19 days since their last fixture, 13 Madridistas went off to serve their country, 11 of them playing in two games. That could test their fitness levels but so early in the season, and with a wider pack to shuffle later in the game, Lopetegui will be expecting to be heading home at the top of the table.
Starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric, Ceballos, Bale, Asensio, Benzema