Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Bilbao: Rodrygo double sees league leaders extend lead at the top

Rodrygo scored a goal in each half as Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home on Sunday, cementing their lead in the LaLiga standings.

With eight games remaining, Real Madrid have 75 points, eight ahead of Barcelona in second and ten ahead of Girona in third.

The result dented Bilbao's chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League, as they are only one point ahead of Atletico Madrid, who play at Villarreal on Monday.

Rodrygo broke the deadlock after eight minutes, calmly curling the ball into the far corner following a composed run to the edge of the box, as Bilbao's defence failed to close down the Brazilian winger.

Aurelien Tchouameni nearly scored with a powerful header from a corner just before halftime, but the ball narrowly missed the target, denying Real another goal.

In the 73rd minute, Jude Bellingham played Rodrygo free on the wing on a counter-attack, giving him time and space to run into the box and guide the ball into the bottom corner.

Bellingham returned from a two-match suspension to replace Vinicius Jr, who was suspended for this match after receiving five yellow cards.

In stoppage time, the Santiago Bernabeu crowd applauded Eder Militao, who had been out since August with an ACL injury and made his return to the pitch for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was pleased to see his Brazilian defender back in action.

"We are talking about one of the best defenders in the world and he is important for us," he said.

"He needs time to adapt and get back to playing. We'll need him in this final stretch of the season."

On April 9, Real Madrid will host Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.

"We know them very well, but we're going to focus on our game. We need to bring more intensity than we did today, but we still have time," Ancelotti added.

Bilbao will face Mallorca in the Copa Del Rey final on Saturday, and manager Ernesto Valverde was quick to downplay the loss to Real.

"Now we focus on what is coming this week and fighting for the final. We have to face it with enthusiasm and motivation," he said.

SportsLigue