Athletic Club vs Real Madrid summary: Bellingham goal, score, goals, highlights | LaLiga 2023-24

FT: Athletic Club 0-2 Real Madrid

Los Blancos collect their first three points of the new campaign. They led 2-0 at the break with goals from Rodrygo and new signing Jude Bellingham, who netted on his league debut. 

Eder Militao went off early in the second half with what looks like a serious injury and we'll have an update on that as soon as we know more.

Athletic had a chance late on through Aitor Paredes but were unable to get past Andriy Lunin, who played between the sticks after Thibaut Courtois was ruled out for the season.

Madrid begin life without talismanic figure Karim Benzema with a bang.

There's the final whistle!

Real Madrid are off to a fine start, beating Athletic Club 2-0 away from home.

Kroos is fouled and that will be that.

A late Athletic one now would scare Madrid.

PAREDES!

Berenguer curls the free in from the right and the defender gets up highest, but heads just wide.

There will be five minutes added on.

Athletic have a late corner...

It drops to Sancet on the edge of the area but he buries it high and wide.

Inaki Williams receives a yellow for catching Bellingham with a late challenge. He stands on the former Dortmund player's foot as they challenge for the ball. 0-2

Having the option of taking on Kroos and Modric to run the game down is a major plus for Ancelotti.

Modric is on the pitch 30 seconds and has already played one of his trademark outside-of-the-right-boot passes.

Ancelotti shakes things up with 10' to go. The deadly duo in attack are off and it remains 2-0 to Los Blancos at San Mamés.

Real Madrid changes

OFF Vinícius 
ON Luka Modric

OFF Rodrygo
ON Joselu

Luka Modric is about to come in for Madrid. 

Athletic have a huge chance...

Kroos loses it, and Berenguer strikes from just inside the box, but out of nowhere comes Tchouameni to make a magnificent block and keep the scoreline at 0-2.

His effort was hitting the target until the Frenchman appeared to save the day for Madrid.

Real Madrid change

Real Madrid lead 2-0 at San Mamés on the opening weekend of the new LaLiga season.

Athletic win a corner on the left. Valverde heads it away at the front post. 

Sancet then fires the loose ball at goal but Alaba blocks it. 

Toni Kroos is about to come on for Real Madrid. Not a bad sub if you have it. 

VALVERDE!

He drills the free-kick from the left just wide. It hits the side-netting.

Vivian picks up a yellow for fouling Vinícius on the edge of the box.

Hey Jude

OFF Mikel Vesga

ON Ander Herrera

Fran García fires a low cross in from the left. Rodrygo slides but can't reach it. It's great play from the former Rayo man on the left. He's offering an attacking threat, which allows Vinícius to play more centrally.

Athletic build from left to right. It reaches De Marcos. He sends a cross into the box... Lunin comes out to claim it. I wonder is Kepa watching.

Vinicius and Bellingham link up again. 

This time the Brazil international plays the Englishman in. He crosses from the left, but it's cut out.

Bellingham belongs at Real Madrid. 

Bellingham slips Vinícius through. The Brazilian is travelling at serious speed but slips as he reaches the Athletic box. Athletic have possession once again.

Berenguer curls an Athletic free from the right into the box. Madrid clear their lines. 0-2

There's the confirmation of that Real Madrid change.

Rudiger is straight in at centre-back alongside Alaba. Real Madrid lead 2-0 in Bilbao.

Real Madrid change

OFF Eder Militao

ON Antonio Rudiger

He goes to win the ball but slides and goes over in agony. It doesn't look good, in the same week that Courtois ruptures his ACL, too.

Militao punches the ground and is in tears as he limps off. This could be very bad news for the player and the club.

Militao is down and it doesn't look good. 

Los Blancos lead thanks to first-half goals from Rodrygo and Bellingham.

Real Madrid get us underway for the second half!

The home side have it all to do in the second half.

HT: Athletic 0-2 Real Madrid

And there's the whistle.

Real Madrid lead 2-0 at half-time. Rodrygo and Bellingham have scored the goals. 

It's a tough place to come to, San Mamés, but Los Blancos are about to take a two-goal lead into the break. 

It's pretty scary when you look at Madrid's midfield and forward line and realise that these guys have at least another decade of football in them.

There will be four minutes added on.

Athletic are applying some pressure before the break. De Marcos fouls Bellingham on the edge of the Madrid box with a late challenge. Madrid have a free out and will look to see this out now. 

Bellingham is operating ahead of the midfield three, but he covers so much ground. 

Life without Benzema has started pretty well, but, of course, there is a long way to go in this one.

Ancelotti will be delighted with how this new-looking Madrid side have started here. 

Athletic 0-2 Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham scores on his debut!

The corner falls to Bellingham, who side-foots it into the far corner from just inside the box. It's placed into the ground and loops over Unai Simón, who has no chance.

Real Madrid double their lead!

VINÍCIUS!

What a chance!

Vinícius do so well to slide past three before being denied by Unai Simón.

Alaba!

Unai Simón keeps his header out at the near post. It's almost 0-2!

The home side are behind to Ancelotti's men.

Rodrygo takes responsibility up top after the departure of Benzema and has his first league goal of the season.

Real Madrid take the lead through Rodrygo.

Carvajal slides in the box and wins the ball back. It falls to Rodrygo on the right-hand side of the box, and he shoots low and hard past Unai Simón.

Both teams are looking to use the wings to exploit their opponents. Madrid's width is coming from wing-backs Fran García and Dani Carvajal. 

Athletic livewire and Spain international Nico Williams looks to find his older brother, Inaki, but overhits the pass and Madrid win possession back. 0-0

Alaba's free is poor. It's low and straight at Unai Simón, who has been the busier of the two keepers at San Mamés.

De Marcos fouls Camavinga. Madrid have a free kick on the left, about 30 yards from goal.

Bellingham slips Rodrygo through. He gets to the byline and crosses, but Unai Simón pushes it away. 0-0

Real Madrid had not started a LaLiga season away to Athletic since December 1, 1929 (lost 2-1), according to MisterChip.

Only two teams have been champions after playing their first LaLiga game of the season at San Mamés: Atlético de Madrid (twice) and Barcelona (once).

Real Madrid players show their support for Courtois pre-match.

Lunin has yet to be tested in the Madrid goal. He's in for the injured Courtois, who ruptured his ACL on Thursday. Kepa is on the way from Chelsea and will likely become Ancelotti's new No 1.

Madrid break down the left. Fran García plays Vinícius in, but the Brazilian forward is offside.

Valverde!

This time they take the corner short - it falls to Valverde 30 yards out and the Uruguayan sends his effort just over the bar. 

Madrid's corner from the right is sent in by Alaba.

Unai Gomez heads it back out for another corner. 

Muniain clips a ball into the box from the right inside channel. Alaba reads the danger and clears. It remains goalless in Bilbao.

Bellingham cam: he's playing furthest forward of the four midfielders, in the hole behind Rodrygo and Vinícius, who are operating as a front two. 

Fouls:

Athletic - 2

Real Madrid - 1

It's been the start we were expecting: full throttle.

Carvajal, Madrid's captain tonight, gets down the right, but his cross is overhit and ends up in Unai Simón's hands. 0-0

Kroos and Modric have been left out of the Madrid team tonight. Camavinga, Tchouameni and Valverde are in the engine room for Los Blancos.

Muniain picks up the first yellow of the match. He thinks he should have a free, protests, and picks up an early booking. It's been pretty hectic so far.

Madrid clear the resulting corner. Bellingham gets his first touch on his LaLiga debut.

Athletic win a corner after 30 seconds. The atmosphere here is electric.

Athletic are playing from left to right as we watch it.

Both sides are playing in their home colours tonight.

And we're underway in Bilbao!

The players make their way onto the pitch!

What an atmosphere we have here at San Mamés! 

The conditions are perfect for the players and the stadium is easily one of the best in Europe.

The boys are back in town. 

Vinícius ahead of tonight's clash.

Kick-off at San Mamés is just 10 minutes away!

For the third year in a row, Real Madrid begin by playing their first three games away from home.

Their next fixtures are against Almería and Celta.

Real Madrid starting XI

Athletic starting XI

Life without Benzema

Real Madrid prepare for life without their talisman Karim Benzema, who has left for the Saudi Pro League.

In pre-season, Ancelotti tried Rodrygo and Vinícius as a front two. It will be very interesting to see how they get on against the Athletic defence this evening.

What a game we have coming up in Bilbao!

It's so good to be back!

Real Madrid warm-up underway

The Real Madrid players are on the pitch ahead of tonight's clash. The warm-ups are underway before the first game of the new season for both sides.

Before the match between Athletic and Real Madrid, the Basque club unveiled an art piece that recreates the goal lines of the old San Mamés.

Real Madrid have landed

They are many people's favorite for the title this year. San Mamés is, however, a very tough place to start the campaign in. 

Bellingham's LaLiga debut

Jude Bellingham is making his first ever start in LaLiga tonight. The England international has made a good impression both on and off the field since joining from Borussia Dormund. And with all the other $100m+ deals for fellow midfielders, it looks like Madrid have done some very good business. 

Zidane in Bilbao

Zizou is spending some time in Bilbao and could attend tonight's match between Athletic and his former club.

Kepa to Madrid!

Kepa is set to join Real Madrid on loan from Chelsea. 

Lunin starts in goal for Los Blancos tonight. 

REAL MADRID

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois injured: how long is he out for? What is the injury?

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left training in tears after suffering an injury ahead of the LaLiga opener against Athletic.

Madrid later confirmed that the keeper suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for most of the season.

Athletic XI

Here's how Valverde's side will line up tonight. 

Unai Simón; De Marcos, Vivian, Paredes, Lekue; De Galarreta, Vesga; Nico Williams, Unai Gómez, Muniain; Iñaki Williams.

Real Madrid's Brazilian attack

Vinícius and Rodrygo are the preferred forwards for Ancelotti. A large part of Madrid’s aspirations this season depends on their success in attack, supported by Joselu and Brahim off the bench.

While the striker on loan from Espanyol has already scored for Madrid - a spectacular effort against Manchester United - the Malagueño has hardly been seen. Brahim is the player who has had the least minutes on an American tour.

Is it better to face Real Madrid now? You never know. They have spent a hundred million for one player. They have changed the way they play, with big players. They already had them before and now they have added others. At any moment they can score a goal. 

REAL MADRID

Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred Real Madrid XI

Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinícius had the most minutes on Real Madrid's tour of the US. 

All three start for Real Madrid tonight. 

Kroos and Modric left out

Kroos and Modric start this one on the bench and are the most notable absences from Ancelotti's eleven.

Tchouameni will start at the pivot, with Valverde and Camavinga also operating in the engine room at San Mamés.

REAL MADRID

Kepa close to completing Real Madrid move

Ahead of the start of the new season, Real Madrid were dealt a blow after first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ruptured his ACL.

Los Blancos are now close to signing Kepa on loan from Chelsea.

Athletic legend Aduriz heads one in against Madrid. The home fans will be hoping for more of the same in the Basque Country tonight.

Athletic team news

The calm before the storm in Bilbao. We'll have the Athletic team news for you as soon as we get it.

Real Madrid XI

Carlo Ancelotti has named his first XI of the season.

Lunin; Carvajal, Militão, Alaba, Fran; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vini Jr.

Athletic Club vs Real Madrid: welcome!

Hello and welcome to AS USA's live coverage of this LaLiga match between Athletic Club and Real Madrid.

LaLiga is well and truly back and we'll have all the action from San Mamés for you today.