Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Club: summary, score, goals, highlights | LaLiga EA Sports

FT: Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic

In the end, Real Madrid ran out comfortable winners with Athletic Club a team with one eye very much on the weekend's Copa del Rey final next Saturday in Seville.

Rodrygo Goes was the hero for Carlo Ancelotti's men bagging a goal in either half with Athletic only offering brief flashes of danger.

There was a late boost for Los Blancos fans in added time as Eder Militao made a return to action since his ACL tear in the opening game of the 2023-24 season at San Mames with the Brazilian getting a huge ovation from the celebrating Bernabeu fans.

Next up for Athletic is the chance of silverware against Mallorca and next up for Real Madrid is the visit of Manchester City in the first leg of the 23-24 Champions League quarter-final.

The whistle sounds and Madrid win through two fine goals from Rodrygo to restore their eight point lead at the top of the LaLiga summit. 

Lunin throws the ball out of play and Militao is back in action.

4 minutes of time to be added on.

Militao back from his ACL tear which he sustained in San Mames in matchday 1 of the current season.

Eder Militao poised to make an entrance ...

Madrid are however in action in the Champions League on 9 April as they take on Man City in the first leg of the quarter-final at the Bernabeu.

Ruiz de Galarreta carded and he will miss the home game against Villarreal.

Into the home straight in the contest and Madrid seem home and dry.

No league action for Carlo Ancelotti's men next weekend as the Copa del Rey takes centre stage. 

Madrid travel to Mallorca the following weekend with Barcelona heading to Cadiz.

Madrid poised to move to 75 points in the season and Los Blancos restore their eight point advantage over FC Barcelona.

Valverde picks up a knock and is replaced by Lucas Vazquez.

Rodrygo and Kroos also leave as Modric and Camavinga take to the field.

Now Iñaki Williams drills the ball inches wide and wins a corner.

Madrid in control. 

A chance falls to Munain but his movement sees the striker roll the ball at Lunin.

Sancet is off with Munain his replacement. 

Final change for Athletic.

Madrid double their lead

Change for Real Madrid as Brahim is replaced by Joselu.

Nacho fouls Williams and earns a yellow for the lunge.

Twenty minutes remain at the Bernabeu.

Athletic still second best in the contest and if we are to see another goal tonight, everything points to it coming from the home side.

Real Madrid unbeaten in their past 17 games against Athletic. 12 wins and 5 draws in that run.

The game is wide open now and the Athletic changes have given added pace to Los Leones.

Carvajal breaks into the box and shows too much and Athletic break.

The ref points to the spot and then waves for an offside. 

Rodrygo adjudged to be inches offside and play continues despite Madrid players protesting.

Trio of changes for Athletic

Aurélien Tchouaméni carded for a lunge on Vesga.

Fine play from Los Blancos as the ball falls to Brahim and the Morocco international blazes over the bar.

Iñaki Williams fires on target and forces a fine reflex stop from the Athletic winger who side foots from the corner.

Best effort of the night from the Basque side.

Brahim almost makes it 2-0 as his rocket shot rifles back off the Athletic Club post.

A let-off for Los Leones.

Camavinga, Joselu and Vazquez all warming up Real Madrid. 

Yuri and Herrera also going through a warm up drill for the visitors.

Off we go again.

All set for the second half and it's the home side in purple poised to restart.

Athletic Club subs warming up as we await the return of the sides.

This game is also pivotal for the Basque team in their pursuit of a fourth place and spot in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Madrid good value for their lead

The whistle sounds and Madrid are in control at the break.

A cracker from Rodrygo the highlight of the half as Madrid lead by the Brazilian's strike.

Two minutes to be added as Guruzeta musters the first shot on target all evening for the Bilbao outfit but meat and drink for Lunin.

Into the final minute we go and despite Madrid not dazzling, they are very much in control and Athletic do look like a side with other things (Copa del Rey final) ob their mind.

Vivian almost puts the ball into his own net with the ball going inches wide.

Into the final five minutes of the game.

Athletic need to find a cutting edge. 

Julen Agirrezabala does well and gets down to push a decent effort from Valverde wide.

Athletic yet to muster a shot on target.

Madrid work the ball well and it ultimately falls to Kroos but the German's effort is deflected into the arms of Julen Agirrezabala

We pass the half hour mark.

Madrid are ahead but not playing with much sparkle as it's the Basque side who are dominant in possession but just lack any cutting edge.

There is a lingering sensation that Athletic players are not going full tilt and it's not what traditionalists would call a 'red blooded' approach from Valverde's side.

Athletic switch

Yeray is replaced by Vivian

Not good news for Athletic as Yeray pulls up and needs to be switched.

A worrying omen for fans of the Basque side with the Copa game looming.

...and by the way, as things stand, the gap at the top of the table is back to eight points !

Twenty minutes gone at the Bernabeu and Lunin set to be really tested by the Basque side.

Madrid looking composed and very much like a side in control of the contest.

The corresponding fixture this season at San Mames was the opening match of the 23-24 campaign and the game where Jude Bellingham began his love affair with Los Blancos fans bagging the second goal as part of a 0-2 win.

Athletic ahead on possession stats

Real Madrid 48-25 Athletic (%) after 15 minutes

The home side now fired up and boosted with that fine Rodrygo strike.

Madrid take the lead in the 8th minute

Apart from the Copa del Rey final, Athletic will be desperately keen to maintain their fourth place and a place in the UCL. 

Still trying to get to grips with the fact that Athletic are the side in white !

The men in white are dominating the game in the 5-6 minutes to date.

Good start form Athletic as they win three back-to-back corners.

The roof is closed tonight at the Bernabeu as Athletic win the first corner of the contest.

Underway in Madrid

Off we go in Madrid. 

Athletic start the game.

All set in Madrid as the captain's go through the pregame protocol ....

Five changes for Athletic with one eye on Seville.

...and of course, the reason there is no LaLiga games next weekend is due to the staging of the Copa del Rey final in Sevilla on Saturday as Mallorca face Athletic.

We're also just two games away from El Clasico.

Next up, Madrid face Mallorca in Palma with Barça away to Cadiz and then on the 21st... El Clasico !

Less than five minutes to go.

Remember, the side in white tonight at the Bernabeu are Athletic Club with Real Madrid rocking their Y·3 x Adidas purple kit for this matchday 30 clash.

Williams looking to stun the Bernabeu

Iñaki Williams will be hoping to set his Athletic side up in perfect style ahead of the Copa final with a solid performance tonight in Madrid.

The winger has only managed one goal for the Leones in 19 league, Copa and Super Copa matches against Real Madrid.

A reminder of how tonight's teams line-up as kick-off looms at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid-Athletic: match weather

It's a miserable grey end of March evening in the Spanish capital but the rain that has rocked Madrid over the past few days seems to have let up and moved on.

The Bernabeu may be roofed for tonight's game to keep the fans warmer with a current brisk temp of 7C-44F in the heart of Spain.

Javier Arbeloa Rojas to officiate

The 32-year-old from Toledo has been nominated to oversee tonight's game at the Bernabeu having made his first division debut in 2017 refereeing a Levante vs Deportivo la Coruña clash in Valencia.

Madrid's Y·3 jersey

This is a closer look at the jersey that Real Madrid will sport tonight as part of their collaboration between kit partner Adidas and Japanese fashion house Y-3. 

As attractive as the shirt is, it don't come cheap with little change from $200 for would-be buyers.

Athletic too on a hot run but how much of a distraction will next weekend´s Copa del Rey final prove for the Basque side?

Real Madrid are flying in LaLiga and into UCL last eight where they face Man City.

Ancelotti's men are one of the form sides in Europe's top leagues and will be hoping to secure maximum points and regain an eight point lead over Barça at the LaLiga summit.

In true NBA style !

Camavinga and Lunin arrive at the Bernabeu dressed in the latest collection between Real Madrid x Adidas and the Y3 brand

Militão set for long-awaited injury return?

Meanwhile, Eder Militão is back on the bench tonight, 233 days after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last August, in Madrid’s LaLiga season opener against today’s opponents.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, however, Ancelotti was cautious over the defender’s chances of being given game time. “It might happen, it might not,” the Italian said. “But I’m not saying it’s a 50-50 thing; it’s more like 70% that it won’t, and 30% that it will.”

Athletic XI announced

Guruzeta is the sole striker for the Basque side tonight who incidentally will sport their white away jersey with Madrid set to play in purple. 

Previous RM-Athletic meetings

In total Real Madrid and Athletic have faced each other 185 times in LaLiga, with Athletic recording 51 wins, 37 draws and 97 losses.

Los Leones have only managed 13 wins at the Santiago Bernabeu !

Valverde admits Athletic will go "all out"

With many thinking that Valverde will have one eye on Athletic's Copa clash with Mallorca next weekend, the Basque coach brushed aside claims that his team would not be in top gear for the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"Show me a team who does not try to win their game" was his retort to this 'taking it easy' accusation.

No Nico for Valverde

There will be no Nico Williams tonight for Los Leones with the winger ruled out with a hamstring issue, the Spanish international is the only major absentee for Ernesto Valverde.

REAL MADRID

Why are Real Madrid playing in purple against Athletic Club?

Last meeting at the Bernabeu

The last time both sides met in Chamartin was at the tail end of the 22-23 season with Barça already proclaimed LaLiga champions. 

A tame affair at the Bernabeu ended 1-1 with Sancet putting Los Leones ahead before Benzema fired Madrid level for a share of the spoils.

Athletic ready for Madrid test

Athletic get ready for their Copa del Rey final against Mallorca with a trip to the Bernabeu. 

Real Madrid XI announced

It's an early release for the Real Madrid starting XI tonight with Brahim and Rodrygo leading the line in the absence of the suspended Vini Jr.

Nacho takes the captain's armband and Lunin mans the sticks.

Earlier on Sunday, Girona left it late to record a 3-2 win over Real Betis to help their bid to secure a first ever place in the UEFA Champions League next season.

Madrid travel to Mallorca the weekend after next as Barça head to Cadiz with no league games scheduled due to the staging of the 2023-34 Copa del Rey final between Mallorca and Athletic Club.

LaLiga leaders Real Madrid can take another step towards their 36th domestic title when they host an Athletic Club side who are now in pole position to secure a top-four finish.

Madrid, who have won their last three home LaLiga games by a 9-0 aggregate score, sit five points clear of arch rivals Barcelona at the summit after Xavi's side recorded a 1-0 win over Las Palmas on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Athletic leapfrogged Atlético Madrid into fourth during the most recent round of LaLiga matches. The Basques’ 2-0 victory over Alavés, combined with Atlético’s 3-0 defeat to Barça, took Ernesto Valverde’s men one point above Los Colchoneros.

What time does Real Madrid vs Athletic Club start?

The LaLiga matchday-30 game between Real Madrid and Athletic Club will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday 31 March 2024. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm ET/12 noon PT.

Hello and welcome to our live LaLiga coverage as we focus on Real Madrid's Sunday night clash against Athletic in the Spanish capital.