After a frustrating run of three consecutive draws, Real Madrid arrived at the San Mamés knowing that nothing less than a win would suffice. The pressure was mounting on manager Xabi Alonso, but his side responded in emphatic fashion, dismantling Athletic Club 3-0 in one of their most complete performances of the season.
Here is a breakdown of how the night unfolded in Bilbao and what it means for the La Liga title race.
The Kylian Mbappé Show
If there were any doubts about Real Madrid’s attack recently, Kylian Mbappé put them to rest within the first seven minutes. The French superstar opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort, picking up a stunning cross-field pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. He drove past the defenders and fired past Unai Simón to give Los Blancos an early lead.
He wasn’t done there. In the second half (59th minute), Mbappé doubled his tally with a trademark strike from outside the box, curling it into the bottom corner. It was a performance that reminded everyone why he is considered the best in the world.
Camavinga Dominates the Midfield
While Mbappé stole the headlines, Eduardo Camavinga was the engine room of the victory. Not only did he break up Athletic’s attacks effectively, but he also got on the scoresheet. Just before halftime (42nd minute), Camavinga found himself in the box to head home a cross, making it 2-0 and effectively killing the game before the break.
A Bitter-Sweet Night for Trent Alexander-Arnold
English full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined the Madrid giants earlier this year, finally registered his first La Liga assist with that beautiful ball to Mbappé. However, the night ended on a worrying note as he was substituted in the second half with an apparent injury. Madrid fans will be anxiously waiting for the medical report, hoping it isn't serious.
Athletic Club’s Struggles Continue
For the hosts, it was a night to forget. The atmosphere at San Mamés is usually intimidating, but Real Madrid’s early dominance silenced the crowd. Athletic Club struggled to create clear-cut chances, and their defense had no answer for the pace of Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé. This loss keeps them stuck in the middle of the table, damaging their hopes for European qualification.
The Title Race is On!
This was a massive result for the league table. With this win, Real Madrid has moved back to within just one point of league leaders Barcelona. After Barcelona’s victory over Atlético Madrid earlier in the week, the pressure was on Madrid to respond, and they did so perfectly. The La Liga title race is officially neck-and-neck as we head deeper into December.
Final Verdict
Real Madrid needed a statement win to silence the critics, and they found it at one of the toughest stadiums in Spain. With Mbappé firing on all cylinders and the midfield looking solid, Xabi Alonso’s team looks ready to fight Barcelona for the title until the very end.
What was your favorite moment of the match? Let me know in the comments below!
#Realmadrid #Athleticclub #Laliga #Mbappe
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