Real Madrid (25' Marcelo, 46', pen.67' Cristiano, 85' Callejón) 4 - 1 (13' Llorente) Athletic Bilbao
Los Blancos faced Athletic Bilbao tonight at the Bernabéu. This match corresponds to Week 1 of La Liga, which – as some of my fellow La Liga followers know – was postponed at the start of the campaign due to the strike. So technically, this match was the final match in the 1st leg of the championship. Real Madrid hoped to seal this leg with a 16th win, allowing them to keep their 5-point lead in the tables.
Athletic Bilbao opened up the game at the 13' mark when Fernando Llorente guided a cross from Javi Martínez into the bottom left corner. Madrid's Esteban Granero took a shot at the 17' but was easily saved at the center of the goal by Bilbao goalkeeper Iraizoz. It was Brazilian international Marcelo who scored the equalizer with a brilliant goal at the 25' with a left-footed shot to the bottom left corner. Benzema, the French international was close to scoring a minute earlier, only to aim too high – and by too high, I mean he probably sent the ball into orbit.
Iker Casillas gave every Madridista a scare when he came out of the safety of his box to make a save, only to end up on the ground, clutching his leg. Medics came out on the pitch, stretcher and everything, to tend to Casillas, but the goalkeeper decided he was able to continue. Due to the delay in the match, two minutes were added to the 1st half, but with no real outcomes. It truly is a wonder what José Mourinho had to say to his men during the descanso.
The 2nd half began explosively with Real Madrid's Kaká winning a penalty from Ander Iturraspe's horrible foul at the 46'. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty, netting the ball with a right-footed shot to the top left corner, upping the score 2-1 in Madrid's favor. Cristiano's goal was the 100th goal by Real Madrid this season. Bilbao missed an equalizing opportunity at the 52', but the shot went high and wide to the right. Bilbao made the first substitution – a double – of the evening, Gaizka Toquero on for Fernando Llorente and Ibai Gómez on for Fernando Amorebieta. Madrid fans exhaled a breath of relief, as Llorente was the reason behind every heart attack in the 1st half.
Óscar De Marcos of Athletic Bilbao was shown the red card at the 66' after a foul in the penalty area to Mesut Özil. Benzema had taken a shot before the call, scoring a goal, but the goal was annulled. Before I decided to scream at the television screen, Real Madrid was given a penalty. As per usual, Cristiano Ronaldo slotted the ball home, improving Madrid’s lead, 3-1.
Los Blancos made their first substitution of the evening— Gonzalo Higuaín on for Benzema at the 68'. He almost found success, but the post kept his strikes away. Higuaín did manage to find José Callejón, who closed out Madrid's scoring with a breakaway goal at the 85'.
Real Madrid finished the match victoriously 4-1. The men play their next match against FC Barcelona – oh no, another Clásico – on Wednesday, January 25th for the Copa del Rey at Camp Nou. Someone prep the defibrillator? Get some Xanax? Until then, ¡Hala Madrid!
Written by Gail Hidalgo, Matt Sinacore
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