Real Madrid responds in San Mamés

Real Madrid responds in San Mamés

The Madrid team beat a fighter Athletic Club 0-2 and follows the league trail of FC Barcelona

MADRID, 22 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid replicated the victory of FC Barcelona with a lot of work and remained three points behind the Catalans in the fight for LaLiga Santander 2022-2023 after winning this Sunday 0-2 in San Mamés against a seasoned Athletic Club, a victory that It continues to help you get out of doubtful moments.

The leader put pressure on with his win against Getafe and forced his pursuer, also squeezed by Real Sociedad, to emerge unscathed from the always difficult visit to a packed 'Cathedral' with a record number of spectators. He managed to do it, despite the efforts of the 'Lions', intense, but with less success in the final meters against an opponent who this time managed to sign a safe match behind and that gives him strength for another difficult week with a cup derby against Atlético de Madrid and visits 'txuri-urdin' in the League.

As expected, Athletic Club put a lot of intensity into it from the initial whistle. Carlo Ancelotti, perhaps, expected it and given the calendar and the wear and tear on Thursday, he opted for a medium with more energy, rewarding Ceballos along with Valverde and Camavinga and leaving Kroos and Modric on the bench. At the beginning it didn't work for him because although the first good opportunity was for Real Madrid with a high shot from Benzema, it was difficult for the visitors to come out and have the ball.

The Biscayan team managed to drown out their rival with their intense pressure, whom they mainly hurt on the right side, and to whom they launched a couple of warnings. First, from set pieces, with a header from rookie Paredes that ran into Courtois and then with the quality of Nico Williams to launch a sharp shot that went near the post.

Real Madrid tried to rebuild itself and not lose their cool or lose balls in dangerous areas. Ancelotti chose to put Asensio further inside to join Benzema there to get the ball better. That was giving him air little by little and made the midfielders grow in the game to settle even better on the field.

The French forward warned with a shot that crashed into Paredes and, just after Athletic was about to surprise in a quick counter and a good combination between Sancet and Iñaki Williams, he shot quality to put his team ahead. The '9' impaled a ball 'rained' in the local area with his left foot and hit the post to match the 228 league goals scored by Raúl González.

The 0-1 increased the confidence of the 14-time European champion, who managed to control the attacks of Ernesto Valverde's men well and who was amassing longer possessions to wear down the 'Leones' more, although without more real scoring chances to arrive to rest with more comfort.

The start of the second half once again offered an intense Athletic that tried to lock down a Real Madrid that decidedly preferred to bet more on the counterattacks, although it lacked a better version of Vinicius to do more damage. The Brazilian was neutralized by De Marcos and barely shone.

Despite this, Nacho had a good chance with a close shot, but without much placement, which Unai Simón repelled. The defender was key minutes later to make a providential cut and avoid Berenguer's shot, although the clearest shot in this first section was from Asensio. The Spaniard, after a great transition led by Benzema and Valverde, saw how his shot with his right foot on the goalkeeper's exit brushed the post.

Valverde then reacted with a triple substitution and the entry of Muniain, Herrera and Guruzeta, a second striker to have more presence in the Madrid area. Athletic took a breath and, propelled by the encouragement of their audience, pressed very hard, but they missed more success, especially on their clearest occasion, from Nico Williams, who defined poorly with everything in their favour.

Little by little, Real Madrid found themselves without a way out, but they knew how to have the defensive strength that they have missed. Iñaki Williams was right, but the 1-1 was annulled due to a previous offside, and despite the local final harassment, it was finally Ancelotti's men who sentenced with a well-tuned shot from Kroos after a counter-final with his rival overturned.

--RESULT: ATHLETIC CLUB, 0 - REAL MADRID, 2 (0-1, at halftime).

ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón; De Marcos (Lekue, min.76), Paredes, Vivian, Yuri; Zárraga (Herrera, min.67), Vesga (Raúl García, min.86); Nico Williams, Sancet (Muniain, min.67), Berenguer (Cruzeta, min.67); and Iñaki Williams.

REAL MADRID: Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Ceballos (Kroos, min.85), Camavinga, Valverde; Asensio (Modric, min.73), Benzema and Vinicius (Rodrygo, min.83).

0-1, minute 24. Benzema.

0-2, minute 90. Duckweed.

--REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez (C.Murcia). He admonished Yuri (min.50), Vivian (min.58) and Herrera (min.88), for Athletic, and Camavinga (min.62) and Vinicius (min.79), for Real Madrid.

--STADIUM: San Mamés. 49,316 viewers.