Real Madrid v Athletic Club Live Commentary & Result, 23/10/2016, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	RMA Real Madrid	38	29	6	3	106	41	+65	93	W W W W W
2	BAR Barcelona	38	28	6	4	116	37	+79	90	W W W W W
3	ATM Atlético Madrid	38	23	9	6	70	27	+43	78	W D W W L
4	SEV Sevilla	38	21	9	8	69	49	+20	72	W L D L W
5	VIL Villarreal	38	19	10	9	56	33	+23	67	W D L W W
6	RSO Real Sociedad	38	19	7	12	59	53	+6	64	D D D W W
7	ATH Athletic Club	38	19	6	13	53	43	+10	63	L D L W W
8	ESP Espanyol	38	15	11	12	49	50	-1	56	W L W L D
9	ALA Deportivo Alavés	38	14	13	11	41	43	-2	55	D W W W D
10	EIB Eibar	38	15	9	14	56	51	+5	54	L L L W D
11	MAL Málaga	38	12	10	16	49	55	-6	46	L D W W W
12	VAL Valencia	38	13	7	18	56	65	-9	46	L W W L L
13	CEL Celta de Vigo	38	13	6	19	53	69	-16	45	D L L L L
14	LPM Las Palmas	38	10	9	19	53	74	-21	39	L L L L L
15	BET Real Betis	38	10	9	19	41	64	-23	39	D D L L L
16	DEP Deportivo La Coruña	38	8	12	18	43	61	-18	36	W D L D L
17	LEG Leganés	38	8	11	19	36	55	-19	35	D D W L W
18	SPO Sporting Gijón	38	7	10	21	42	72	-30	31	D W W L D
19	OSA Osasuna	38	4	10	24	40	94	-54	22	L W L D L
20	GRA Granada	38	4	8	26	30	82	-52	20	L L L L L

The referee blows his whistle for the final time and the Madrid fans and players breathe a sigh of relief. It certainly was a tough night for their side today, as Athletic put in a great performance to continually frustrate them. The visitors looked to be on course to pick up what would have been a well-deserved point, but they lost concentration late on and allowed Morata to slip into the box and steal all three points for the home side, who go top of the La Liga table as a result.

FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 2-1 ATHLETIC BILBAO

What a miss from Ronaldo! A determined Athletic attacking move breaks down and Madrid immediately hit them on a swift counter. Vazquez breaks away on a great run before squaring the ball to Ronaldo, who only has Iraizoz to beat, but he somehow ends up firing his close-range shot straight into the body of the goalkeeper and out for a corner. How did he not score that?

Dani Carvajal

Yellow Card

Carvajal and Laporte tangle deep inside the Athletic half of the pitch, and it's the Madrid defender who ends up receiving a yellow card after clipping the centre-back from behind.

Madrid keep pushing forward but hold up the ball deep down the left wing before Susaeta clumsily fouls Vazquez from behind. Kroos steps up and sends another dangerous cross into the middle of the box, but Iraizoz is there to deal with the danger.

Bale is tripped over by Eraso as he tries to penetrate the left-hand side of the Athletic box, resulting in a free-kick for Madrid in a very dangerous position. Kroos steps up and sends a dangerous cross into the heart of the penalty area, but the visitors do well to deal with the danger and send the ball out for a throw-in.

The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.

It's all hands on deck for Madrid, who have almost every available player back inside their own half of the pitch as they desperately try to hold on to their narrow lead. Athletic are throwing plenty of bodies forward in search of an equaliser, but it looks as if time is running out for them.

Muniain

Enric Saborit

Athletic have made late attacking change, with Muniain coming on to replace Saborit.

Álvaro Morata

Yellow Card

Morata's heavy-handed dealing with Etxeita results in a free-kick for Athletic, but the Madrid striker refuses to give the ball to Laporte and ends up tussling with the defender, which sees him receive a late yellow card.

Aymeric Laporte

Yellow Card

Laporte is also booked for his part in the fracas, and the centre-back doesn't look at all happy with the referee's decision.

Almost a terrible mistake by Varane! A lofted pass over the top of the Madrid defence is easily dealt with by Varane, but an awful pass-back from the centre-back is sent straight to Williams. The youngster only has Navas to beat, but his chipped shot from close range fails to beat Navas and is pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Álvaro Morata

Goal

GOAL! There it is! Madrid are back in front once again! A beautiful curling cross from Bale finds Morata, who slips away from Laporte before firing a first-time half-volley towards goal. Iraizoz does well to save the effort but can only send the ball rolling back to the substitute, who then pokes the ball into the back of the net to surely steal the victory for the hosts.

Madrid try to push forward once again as they desperately attempt to find a late goal that would surely result in all three points going to the home side, but poor play from Marcelo results in the ball bouncing under the foot of the Brazilian and out for a throw-in over on the left wing.

Scramble inside the Athletic box! Morata breaks into the penalty area and takes on Iraizoz, but he's unable to guide his poked shot past the goalkeeper. The ball rolls towards the line before just about being dealt with by the visitors, as a scuffed clearance from Susaeta deflects off the thigh of Etxeita and just over the top of the crossbar.

Susaeta

Sabin Merino

Athletic have made another alteration, with Susaeta coming on to replace the goalscorer Sabin.

What a fantastic opportunity for Bale! Kroos fires a beautiful lofted pass over the top of the Athletic back line and into the path of Bale, who had made a great run into the penalty area, but his first-time half-volley rolls comfortably wide of the far post after beating Iraizoz.

Iturraspe

Raúl García

Garcia unsurprisingly takes his time as he slowly walks off the pitch to be replaced by Iturraspe, and boos rain down on the former Atletico player as he does so.

Álvaro Morata

K. Benzema

That half-chance on goal will be Benzema's last involvement in the game, as he makes his way off the pitch to be replaced by Morata.

Carvajal picks up the ball over on the right flank and immediately curls a cross right on to the head of Benzema, but the Frenchman is climbing all over his marker and ends up sending his headed effort over the top of the crossbar before giving away a free-kick to the visitors.

Kovacic almost makes it 2-1! Madrid come back once again as they continue putting pressure on Athletic's well-organised defence, but this time it's Kovacic who fails to hit the target after meeting the ball well and sending a bouncing header narrowly wide of the goal. The home side are getting nearer to going back in front!

And now Ronaldo goes close! Kroos picks out Benzema on the edge of the Athletic penalty area, and the Frenchman quickly flicks the ball over to Ronaldo. The Portuguese is in a good position on the edge of the box and immediately unleashes a rocket of a shot, but it flies a few yards wide of the far post.

Almost a great chance for Williams! A chipped pass from Rico sails over the head of Pepe and into the feet of Williams, who is completely unmarked inside the Madrid box, but he's unable to sort his feet out quickly enough and ends up being dispossessed before the linesman's flag is eventually raised for offside.

Sabin, who has seen little of the ball since putting it into the back of the Madrid net, gets himself into a good position just outside of the hosts' penalty area and spins quickly before trying to tee up Eraso, but he rushes his pass slightly and fails to beat Varane.

Kovacic picks up the ball 30 yards away from the Athletic goal and is immediately fouled by Saborin, resulting in a free-kick for Madrid in a very dangerous position. Kroos steps up and curls a cross right on to the head of Ronaldo, but, off balance, he's unable to hit the target with his effort.

Lucas Vázquez

Isco

Isco, who has arguably been one of Madrid's best players tonight, makes way for Vazquez in Madrid's first change of the game. The home fans aren't at all happy with that decision!

Kroos muscles his way through the middle of the pitch before being fouled by San Jose, who gives away a cheap free-kick. The German takes it quickly and sends the ball up to Ronaldo on the edge of the penalty area, but the Portuguese scuffs his shot and sends it comfortably wide of the far post.

Another Isco cross sails into the Athletic penalty area over towards Bale at the far post, but the Welshman is slightly heavy-handed as he battles with Saborit and ends up dragging the full-back to the ground, resulting in a free-kick for the visitors.

Chance for Benzema! A curling cross from Isco, who did well to weave his way towards the edge of the penalty area, finds Benzema in a great position at the far post, but the Frenchman sends his headed effort down into the ground and straight to Iraizoz.

It just doesn't seem to be working for Madrid, who have created few chances since the break and aren't putting Athletic under much pressure whenever they try to push forward. Once again, they get themselves into a good position but can't make it count, as a misplaced lofted pass from Isco fails to find Benzema and instead results in a goal-kick.

Williams battles his way down the left wing before winning Athletic a corner, which is curled into the heart of the penalty area. Navas rushes out to deal with the danger but can only punch the ball out to Rico, whose follow-up strike is poor and sails several yards over the top of the crossbar and into the crowd behind the goal.

Ronaldo breaks into the right-hand side of the Athletic penalty area on a great run before fizzing a low pass across the face of goal, but there's no one there to meet it and the visitors are able to hold on once again.

Raúl García

Yellow Card

Garcia rises high and battles in the air with Bale as the two try to reach a lofted pass forward from Iraizoz, but the former Atletico Madrid midfielder ends up catching the Madrid man in the back of the head with a flailing arm and receives a yellow card as a result.

What a golden opportunity for Williams! An awful Madrid throw-in rolls under the feet of Pepe and into the path of Williams, who is in a pocket of space on the edge of the penalty area, but, with only Navas to beat, he puts too much power behind his curling shot and ends up sending it curling just a yard or so over the top of the crossbar. He really should have done better with that!

Saborin gets himself into a good position deep down the left wing after carving out a bit of space for himself, but his curling cross into the Madrid penalty area is sent too near to Navas and the goalkeeper is easily able to deal with the danger under no pressure whatsoever.

Bale goes down inside the Athletic penalty area, but nothing is given! Kovacic wins the ball in the middle of the pitch and immediately tees up Bale, who then flies into the box before going down under a challenge from Lekue. The Welshman quickly turns to the referee and appeals for a penalty, but the man in charge isn't interested and waves play on.

Bale gets forward well again and breaks into the left-hand side of the Athletic box before chipping a deft cross into the middle of the penalty area and towards Benzema, but the ball ends up flying just over the head of the striker before being cleared by Saborit.

Bale charges forward through the middle of the pitch before working the ball out to Marcelo on the left wing, but the Brazilian's cross towards the far post is completely overhit, allowing Iraizoz to watch it sail comfortably wide of the Athletic goal.

And we're underway once again!

The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.

A few grumbles ring around the stadium as the two teams make their way off the pitch, and they certainly aren't coming from the Athletic fans. The visitors have impressed thus far and have done well to keep at bay a Madrid side that have enjoyed a few good chances in front of goal but, overall, haven't been anywhere near clinical enough. At the other end, Athletic have looked bright down the right flank, with Lekue putting in a particularly good shift for the Basque side, who will be very pleased with how things have gone thus far.

HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 1-1 ATHLETIC BILBAO

Laporte looks to have picked up an injury after stretching whilst trying to dispossess Ronaldo, and he's forced off the pitch to receive medical attention. Athletic have to play with 10 men for the last minute of the half, but they do well to keep the ball away from the home side and are able to head into the half-time break with the scores level at 1-1.

The fourth official has indicated that there will be just one minute of added time.

What an opportunity for Ronaldo! The Portuguese breaks into the right-hand side of the Athletic penalty area and beats Laporte far too easily as he heads towards the near post, but he falls asleep on the ball and fails to make a decision quickly enough, allowing Iraizoz to smother the danger before a shot or pass can be unleashed.

Madrid go close! Bale weaves into the left-hand side of the Athletic penalty area and heads towards the byline before fizzing a dangerous pass across the face of goal, but it somehow fails to find either Ronaldo or Benzema, both of whom were camped on the edge of the six-yard box, and the visitors hold on once again.

Carvajal, who has spent most of the first half camped inside the Athletic half of the pitch, gets himself into a good position on the right-hand side of the penalty area and plays a quick one-two with Benzema before shooting, but his low effort doesn't have enough power behind it to trouble Iraizoz in the middle of the goal.

Wasted opportunity by Sabin! A half-hearted Madrid attack breaks down and Athletic hit them on a quick counter. Eraso breaks through the middle of the pitch and slows down just outside of the penalty area before teeing up Sabin, but the striker is also too slow in deciding what to do and, in the end, sends his 20-yard curling shot comfortably over the top of the crossbar.

Vital interception by Laporte! Marcelo whips in a beautiful low cross from the left flank that looks set to find Ronaldo completely unmarked in front of goal, but Laporte sticks out a foot and just about manages to send it away from the Madrid man with a touch at the last possible moment.

Madrid patiently pass the ball around midway inside the Athletic half of the pitch before Kovacic pulls off an audacious rabona pass towards the edge of the penalty area. The Croatian's ball forward almost finds the Portuguese, but it's slightly misplaced and doesn't manage to reach its target. I'm not sure if Zidane will be too pleased with that!

Poor play from Madrid allows the ball to bounce over to the edge of the penalty area, where Williams is waiting, but his first-time volleyed shot takes a deflection that sends it away from goal and out for a corner. The set-piece initially fails to trouble the home side but Athletic come back once again and Kroos is just about able to clear the danger just as Etxeita is about to test Navas from close range.

Isco weaves his way towards the edge of the penalty area and plays a quick one-two with Marcelo before working the ball wonderfully over to Carvajal. The full-back quickly tries to tee up one of the three white shirts camped inside the Athletic box, but the ball deflects off the head of Bale and out for a goal-kick.

Xabier Etxeita

Yellow Card

A high tackle from Etxeita results in the centre-back tangling with Isco, and the referee quickly awards Madrid a free-kick in a dangerous position over on the left wing before showing the centre-back a yellow card. Ronaldo's shot from the set-piece fails to beat the wall but he's able to whip a cross into the box, where the ball bounces around dangerously before being thumped out for a throw-in by Laporte.

Bale receives the ball over on the right-hand side of the Athletic penalty area and immediately curls a cross towards Ronaldo in the middle of the box, but Iraizoz reads the flight of the ball well and rushes out to punch it away from danger before it can find the Portuguese in front of goal.

Madrid quickly push forward as they try to find an immediate response to conceding, but Marcelo is unable to whip a cross in from deep down the left flank after being dispossessed by a great sliding tackle from Lekue just as the Brazilian is about to pull the trigger.

Eraso

Assist

Once again, Eraso showed good determination to muscle his way around the Madrid penalty area, but questions have to be asked of the home side's defence, who were far too lax in trying to deal with the midfielder.

Sabin Merino

Goal

GOAL! Athletic have equalised! Lekue embarks on another excellent run down the right wing as he skips past both Isco and Marcelo. He then fires a low cross into the middle of the box, that finds Eraso, whose first touch is heavy but sends the ball bouncing off Pepe and into the path of Sabin. The striker is completely unmarked in front of goal and easily slots the ball past Navas and into the back of the net to punish Madrid for poor defending.

Isco muscles his way through a sea of red and white shirts before playing a quick one-two with Carvajal and poking the ball back to Bale. The Welshman has a look at the options in front of him and decides to curl a cross into the middle of the Athletic box, but it's poorly hit and is easily dealt with by the visitors' back line.

Lekue, who has arguably been one of Athletic's best players inside the Madrid half of the pitch, cuts inside and beats two players before teeing up Eraso, who is in a pocket of space on the edge of the penalty area, but the latter completely scuffs his curling shot and sends it well wide of its intended target.

A half-hearted Athletic attacking move comes to an end and Madrid hit the visitors on another dangerous counter-attack. They get forward well through Ronaldo before he picks out Isco in a good position on the edge of the penalty area, but Athletic do well to get plenty of bodies back and are eventually able to clear the ball away from danger.

Isco peels out to the right and picks up the ball in an acre of space. He quickly picks out Ronaldo with a looping cross over to the far post and the Portuguese then cuts on to his right foot before shooting, but his strike is poorly hit and sails comfortably wide of the far post.

Free header for Sabin! Lekue gets himself into a good position deep down the right flank before sending a dangerous cross into the heart of the penalty area. The ball grazes the head of Garcia before finding Sabin completely unmarked, but the striker fails to hit the target with his headed effort. He really should have done better with that opportunity!

Great play by Madrid! The home side knock the ball around brilliantly deep inside the Athletic half of the pitch before a lovely cross from Marcelo sails straight on to the head of Bale, who had started the attacking move, but the Welshman's effort on goal ends up flying just a yard or so over the top of the crossbar.

Carvajal pushes forward once again, and this time it's Saborit who pokes the ball out for another Madrid corner over on the right wing. This time, Kroos decides to play the set-piece short to Carvajal, who then curls a cross over to the far post, but Varane's header fails to beat Iraizoz before the referee awards Athletic a free-kick for pushing inside the penalty area.

Kovacic breaks forward before picking out Carvajal over on the right wing, but the full-back's first-time low cross ends up deflecting off a red and white shirt and out for a corner. Kroos steps up and whips a dangerous, curling cross into the middle of the box, but Etxeita is there to head the ball away from danger.

And now Ronaldo goes close! Once again, the Portuguese picks up the ball and charges forward on a marauding run. This time he's able to carve out a bit of space for himself before shooting, but he drags his 20-yard strike slightly wide of the near post.

Chance for Kroos! Madrid immediately win the ball back from the restart and plough forward on a quick counter-attack. Ronaldo weaves through the middle of the pitch on a great run before being dispossessed, but the ball trickles over to Kroos and the German quickly tests Iraizoz with a low strike that the Athletic goalkeeper does well to stop.

K. Benzema

Goal

GOAL! Madrid have taken an early lead! Against the run of play, a thumping lofted pass forward from Marcelo flies into the right-hand side of the Athletic penalty area and finds Isco. It looks as if the midfielder is going to be easily dispossessed by Saborit but the full-back mistimes his tackle before losing his footing, allowing the Madrid man to tee up Benzema, who then slots the ball through the legs of Iraizoz and into the back of the net.

Isco

Assist

That was good play by Isco, who did well to pick out Benzema in a great position inside the box, but Saborit really should have been better with his attempted tackle, which was poorly executed.

The resulting set-piece causes the Madrid defence problems as the ball bounces around the penalty area. Both of the Athletic centre-backs rise high and almost make contact with the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, but Marcelo is just about able to cut out the danger before nodding the ball into the hands of Navas.

Chance for Williams! Eraso picks up the ball on the edge of the Madrid penalty area after Ronaldo is dispossessed and quickly back-heels the ball to Williams. The number 11 is in a good position and immediately fires a thumping low shot towards the bottom left-hand corner of the net, but Navas is there to tip it round the post and out for a corner.

Benzema and Kroos link up well over on the left wing before the latter pokes the ball over to Ronaldo on the edge of the penalty area. The Portuguese has his back to goal so he quickly tees up Isco, but the latter brings an end to a promising attacking move with a poor pass that flies past Bale over on the right-hand side of the box.

Athletic embark on a good start to the game as they push forward on an early attack before winning themselves a corner over on the left wing. It bounces around the Madrid penalty area and causes the home side a few problems, but Rico's attempted pass from the edge of the box is poorly hit and sails comfortably out of play for a goal-kick.

And we're off! Madrid get us underway, attacking from right to left.

The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.

Meanwhile, Athletic boss Ernesto Valverde has made six alterations to the team that featured against Genk in their last outing, with Iago Herrerin, Yeray Alvarez, Mikel Balenziaga, Ander Iturraspe, Iker Muniain and the injured Aritz Aduriz making way for Gorka Iraizoz, Xabier Etxeita, Enric Saborit, Mikel Rico, Javier Eraso and Sabin, respectively.

Zinedine Zidane has decided to make three changes to the Madrid side that started the 5-1 win against Legia Warsaw in the Champions League during the week, with Dani Carvajal, Mateo Kovacic and Isco coming into the starting line-up to replace Danilo, Marco Asensio and James Rodriguez, all of whom feature on the substitutes’ bench.

Athletic Bilbao substitutes: Herrerin, Elustondo, Vesga, Iturraspe, Benat, Susaeta, Muniain.

Athletic Bilbao XI (4-2-3-1): Iraizoz; Lekue, Etxeita, Laporte, Saborit; San Jose, Rico; Williams, Eraso, Garcia; Sabin.

Real Madrid substitutes: Casilla, Nacho, Danilo, Rodriguez, Asensio, Vazquez, Morata.

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Kovacic, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…

Madrid have recent history on their side and won both of last season’s meetings between the two teams, but it’s only a year and a half since Athletic last picked up a victory against Los Blancos. They haven’t had the best of luck at the Bernabeu in recent years, however, with their last win here coming back in February 2005, when Ernesto Valverde guided the Basques to a victory against a Madrid side that included current boss Zinedine Zidane.

Athletic head to the capital in fine form, and back-to-back defeats at the start of the season are now a thing of the past thanks to five wins from their last six La Liga clashes. Valencia, Sevilla and, most recently, Real Sociedad have all been beaten during that time, leaving the Basque side in a very impressive sixth place, just three points behind Madrid.

The victory at the Estadio Benito Villamarin means that Los Blancos start the day just one point behind Barcelona and two away from Sevilla, who lead the way after beating Atletico Madrid earlier today. A win would move them above Jorge Sampaoli's side and up to the top of the table, but, with the game coming against an in-form Athletic side, it’s not going to be easy.

After going three league games without a win during a frustrating two-week period, a 6-1 thumping away to Real Betis last weekend saw Madrid return to winning ways in emphatic fashion, keeping them firmly part of what is, even at this early stage of the season, becoming a fierce fight at the top of the table.

Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s La Liga game between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid v Athletic Club Live Commentary, 23/10/2016

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