Real Madrid picked up three deserved points against Athletic at the Bernabéu. Victory was sealed in the 93rd minute with a spectacular Valverde volley, but it could have come earlier from any of the clear chances our team had, especially in the second half when they piled relentless pressure on their opponents. In the first half, Real Madrid dominated possession and could have scored on the half-hour mark. Vini Jr. stole the ball from Djaló in midfield, escaped Vesga and Galarreta with two silky feints at speed and his subsequent fierce long-range shot narrowly missed the target. The last chance before the break came in the 36th minute. Modrić took the corner and Valverde's powerful header ended up in the hands of Unai Simón.
The second half started differently and Rodrygo came very close to opening the scoring with a curling shot from inside the area that grazed the post. With barely any time to catch a breath, Camavinga tried his luck in the 49th minute. The move was started by Vini Jr. with a beautiful backheel and continued by the Frenchman, picking the ball in his own half and setting off on a run that saw him burn past Gallareta and Núñez, only for his shot from inside the area to be beaten away for a corner by Unai Simón. Athletic Club responded ten minutes later with a shot from Unai G. that had Courtois scrambling.
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Our team was on the front foot and in the 61st minute had a double chance from two fantastic Bellingham headers. The first, after a magnificent pass from Vini Jr. with the outside of his right foot, was deflected for a corner by Unai Simón, who came to his team’s rescue with a great save. Modrić took the corner, and the Englishman's header was inches away from going in. Ancelotti's side had already deserved to score and came close again in the 67th minute with a left-footed Valverde drive that crashed into the side netting.
Chances and a penalty not given
The chances kept coming for Real Madrid, who had their opponents pinned back in their area. Bellingham found himself with a rebound inside the area in the 74th minute, his shot hit Paredes, thus preventing the match’s first goal. Vini Jr. scored six minutes later after a spectacular solo run, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Endrick, who did not touch the ball and was inches offside. Martínez Munuera consulted the monitor to review the play and decided to disallow the goal. The controversy continued in the 88th minute. Bellingham controlled the ball inside the area and Núñez, in his attempted clearance, hit the Englishman's foot, but neither Martínez Munuera nor the VAR referee awarded a penalty.
A wonder goal worthy of three points
The home side continued to force the issue and in the 90th minute, Bellingham had another chance, but he shot over from inside the area. The pressure was evident and in added time, the deserved winner arrived. It was a beautifully crafted goal by Valverde, who struck the ball spectacularly with the outside of his right foot and sent it into the top corner of the visitors' goal.
| Pos. | PTS | P | W | D | L | GD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
Barcelona | 73 | 32 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 56 |
| 2 |
 |
Real Madrid | 69 | 32 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 34 |
| 3 |
 |
Atlético de Madrid | 63 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 26 |
| 4 |
 |
Athletic Club | 57 | 32 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 23 |
