Real Madrid 5-1 Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid notched their 31st victory on Saturday by drubbing Athletic Bilbao in what was the Whites’ final home match of the season. With one game left to play, Higuain and Cristiano have combined for 53 of the team’s 101 goals this year.

One victory shy of 98 points

Winning was all that counted for Real Madrid if they were to keep their title hopes alive and make it to the final week of action with a chance to notch 98 points on the year. Only four minutes had ticked off the clock when Cristiano Ronaldo put Iraizoz to the test. Five minutes later the Madridsta sent another shot just wide of the post. Caparros surprisingly left Fernando Llorente on the bench, but it didn’t prevent Athletic from putting on their own pressure.

Amorebieta was sent off on 21′ and Cristiano fired home the ensuing penalty kick to put Real up 1-0. The Whites took complete control of the match with a one-man advantage and Athletic retreated in search of a deadly counterattack. Despite their numerical superiority, Real Madrid slowed their pace and Yeste managed to capitalize by beating Casillas. The teams headed into the dressing room level and one goal apiece.

Kaka stepped in for Gago at the restart, but Athletic remained well-positioned and Real couldn’t successfully complete the final pass. Granero looked in dismay as his shot from distance struck off the corner of the crossbar. Athletic grew confident and Yeste nearly gave his side the advantage, but Casillas made the frantic save.

Pellegrini replaced Granero with Benzema in search of more fire power with only 23 minutes left to play. Higuain was lucky on his third attempt and put a header by Iraizoz following a corner kick. Pipita’s 27th goal in league action was all the Whites needed to keep their title hopes alive, but they weren’t done yet.

With nine minutes left in regulation Sergio Ramos dribbled through defenders to put the third on the board and one minute later Benzema hammered home the fourth. Athletic Bilbao had been done in, but Marcelo got his name of the score sheet on 90′ after a mistake committed by the defense. The 98-point objective is now only one win away.

Lineups:

Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Guti H., Gago (Kaká 47′), Granero (Benzema 67′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín    (Diarra 83′);

Athletic Club: Iraizoz, Iraola, San José, Koikili, Amorebieta, Gurpegi, Iturraspe, Javi Martínez, Yeste (Gabilondo 66′), De Marcos (Susaeta 54′), Toquero (Llorente 75′);

Goals:

1-0, 22′: Cristiano Ronaldo (Pen);
1-1, 41′: Yeste;
2-1, 74′: Higuain;
3-1, 81′: Sergio Ramos;
4-1, 82′: Benzema;
5-1, 90′: Marcelo;

May 9, 2010 | Categories: Match Reports, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Athletic Bilbao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Francisco Yeste, Gonzalo Higuaín, Karim Benzema, Marcelo Vieira, Sergio Ramos | Leave A Comment »