K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by L. Modrić.
GOOAAALLLLL! 3-1 MADRID! After almost conceding, Madrid wrap up the game in style. Benzema held the ball up well initially before receiving it back from Modric and burying it into the bottom corner.
Modric set up Benzema for his second of the game.
90' +1
There will be three minutes of added time.
90'
Asensio does well on the right before laying the ball of for Modric. He then receives it back and decides his best option is to have a dig but his effort is wide.
89'
For all it looks like they're going to run out victorious, Madrid have been very wasteful when they have worked the ball into dangerous positions.
87'
Villalibre wins a free-kick after a tussle with Varane. Athletic try to launch it forward but it comes to nothing. Up the other end, Courtois sets Rodrygo away before his attempt to tee up Isco is intercepted by Alvarez.
86'
Athletic win another corner before the hosts can clear. Courtois sets Isco away on the break before Madrid settle into a spell of possession.
84'
Having said that, Lekue, with his fresh legs, wins a corner. Madrid clear the danger initally before Muniain has it back on the right for the visitors.
82'
Los Blancos play the ball around with ease at the back. The intensity that the Basque club had at the start of the match appears to have gone completely.
80'
Muniain enters the game and replaces De Marcos.
Yeray gets yellow.
Lekue enters the game and replaces Capa.
Muniain also enters the field in place of de Marcos.
Capa, who scored Athletic's goal, is replaced by Lekue.
Alvarez is booked for a late challenge.
Minute
Description
79'
Isco, who plays like he was born to have a ball at his feet, is controlling things in the middle of the park as Madrid try to hang onto their lead.
77'
With just under 15 minutes to go, can the away side dig deep and find another equaliser?
75'
Rodrygo enters the game and replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Vazquez is replaced by Rodrygo for the final 15 minutes.
74'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Dani Carvajal.
It was an exquisite delivery from Carvajal to tee up Benzema who was never going to miss from there.
GOOAAAALLL! 2-1 MADRID!! They've been limited to crosses into the box all game but this time the delivery was pinpoint. Mendy worked a corner short to Carvajal whose cross into the box was on a plate for Benzema to guide past Simon into the corner.
73'
Benzema is dispossessed but Madrid come again. Vazquez plays it out to Modric on the right who delivers a tantalising low cross that Athletic to well to get out for a corner.
71'
Isco plays a lovely first-time pass into Asnensio who has a cross blocked. Madrid go back on the attack with Mendy attempting to play in Vazquez but the forward is caught a fraction offside.
70'
The substitutions seem to have taken the sting out of the game for now.
69'
A Madrid attack is brought to an end when Modric is caught offside on the right flank.
67'
Asier Villalibre enters the game and replaces I. Williams.
It's also the last we'll see of Williams who offered Athletic a brilliant outlet all game. Villalibre will lead the line for the last 25 minutes.
66'
Mikel Vesga enters the game and replaces Unai Vencedor.
Another change for the visitors. Vesga, who was a doubt for his game, replaces Vencedor.
65'
Modric tees up Kroos who has another first-time shot on goal. It's on target but well saved by Simon.
64'
Isco enters the game and replaces F. Valverde.
Marco Asensio enters the game and replaces Vinícius Júnior.
At the same time, Valverde's game is up and Isco comes on in his place.
63'
Zidane makes his first change as Vinicius makes way for Asensio.
Benzema feeds the ball into Vinicius who takes a superb first touch. It looks like he's evaded Alvarez but the Athletic defender is very alert and times his recovery challenge perfectly.
62'
Madrid are camped in Athletico's half. They switch play from right to left and back again trying to force an opening but, much like the first half, they are being restricted to crosses from wide or shots from outside the box.
60'
Vinicius has the ball on the left wing and passes inside to Mendy. The full-back shuffles the ball out of his feet and fires a shot way over the bar.
59'
Iñigo Córdoba enters the game and replaces Álex Berenguer.
Berenguer is replaced by Cordoba for the final 30 minutes or so.
Simon punches well from a Madrid corner and Athletic look to break. However, they're dispossessed and it looks like we're about to see some changes.
58'
It was Vinicius who was caught offside for Madrid's disallowed goal. It was close, but the right call was made.
56'
Carvajal makes a brilliant run up the right wing but Athletic defend brilliantly. The goal really seems to have brought Madrid to life.
54'
Keen to make amends, Madrid have the ball in the net almost straight from kick-off but the linesman's flag is rightly up for offside.
52'
Capa has scored a goal for Athletic Bilbao!
GOOOAAALLLLL! ATHLETIC ARE LEVEL! They've started the half well and now they're level. Capa made a brilliant surge up field before feeding De Marcos in behind the Madrid defence. The midfielder then gave it straight back to his team-mate who had his first effort brilliantly saved before finding the net on the rebound. 1-1!
51'
Athletic are spraying the ball around nicely at the beginning of this half. Williams has it again, this time on the left, and his attempted throughball is just out of reach for De Marcos.
49'
The cross is cleared initially before De Marcos and Berenguer gather the loose ball and continue the attack. Madrid defend well and force their opponents back into their own half.
48'
Williams holds the ball up brilliantly before feeding De Marcos down the right. The midfielder gets to the byline and wins his side a corner.
46'
We're back underway for the second half. Can Athletic get back into it or will Madrid run out comfortable victors? Time will tell.
Just seconds into the second period and the home side have a corner. It's worked short before Ramos gives away a free-kick in the Athletic box.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: REAL MADRID 1-0 ATHLETIC BILBAO
45' +1
T. Kroos has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Vinícius Júnior.
There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this half.
GOOOAAAAALLLLL!! MADRID LEAD!! It looked like Athletic were going to survive until half-time but the hosts had other ideas. Some intricate play between Valverde and Vinicius teed up Kroos who thundered a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. 1-0 Madrid!
It was a simple assist for Vinicius but the play before that between himself and Valverde was what made the goal.
44'
Another chance for the hosts who are starting to turn the screw. This time, it falls to Benzema but he can't poke his shot on target.
42'
Lucas Vázquez gets yellow.
Lucas Vazquez is the next player booked.
39'
Capa wins a corner for the away side and Alvarez is up highest to meet it. However, his header is way over the bar.
37'
De Marcos has the ball in an advanced position and finds Williams who then feeds Berenguer on the left. The ball is then returned to De Marcos in behind the Madrid defence but Ramos recovers well to thwart the Athletic attack.
36'
Kroos floats a lovely ball over the top for Benzema but it's just out of reach for the veteran French striker.
35'
Vinicius has the ball on the left and cuts in nicely before launching a shot over the bar.
34'
Williams has the ball on the right and takes everyone by surprise with a brilliant turn and switch of play to Vencedor on the right. The midfielder has space to run into and time to line up a cross, but fires it straight out for a goal-kick much to the frustration of his manager.
33'
The Basque club are proving very tough to breakdown at the back. Madrid are certainly probing, but they're being limited to crosses and long-range efforts.
31'
Modric delivers a teasing ball into the box but it just won't fall for one of the Madrid players who are waiting.
30'
Modric has the ball at his feet and feeds Mendy who has made a good run beyond him on the left-hand side. However, the full-back smashes his attempted cross out for an Athletic throw on the other side.
29'
Madrid break from the corner but Athletic scramble back well. Eventually, Kroos has another crack on goal but fires it just wide.
28'
Williams wins a free-kick off Varane and Athletic have a chance to get the ball in the box. Berenguer swings it in nicely but Ramos is there to divert it out for a corner.
26'
Modric switches play to Vazquez whose cross is diverted out for a Madrid corner. The delivery is good and Ramos is up to meet it but the Spaniard fires it just over the bar.
25'
Vinicius attempts to find Benzema in the box but marginally overhits his cross into the grateful arms of Simon.
22'
Vinicius has it on the left again and cuts in to feed Kroos. The German lines up a shot from the edge of the area but it's well blocked.
For all that they're a man down, Athletic are still finding space when they get forward. Williams once again has a chance to create something but wastes the opportunity with a loose cross.
20'
Williams has the ball on the right flank and wins a throw-in off Varane. It's thrown long but Ramos is the man on hand to gather and start another Madrid attack.
18'
The visitors are coming under increasing pressure now with the man disadvantage. Madrid earn the first corner of the game as they look to break the deadlock.
15'
There were plenty of protests from the Athletic players but the referee had made up his mind. It seems like a dangerous precedent he has set.
13'
Raúl García gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD! Wow that seems harsh. Raul Garcia's game is over after just 14 minutes after he is booked for another challenge on Kroos. Neither seemed overly cynical nor were they committed in a dangerous area.
CHANCE! The visitors have another chance as De Marcos and Williams work a lovely one-two. The Athletic striker has a glaring opportunity to fire past Courtois but puts it wide under pressure from Carvajal.
11'
Williams forces another mistake from Varane who concedes a throw-in. However, Madrid retrieve the ball and attempt to make a break of their own with Vinicius up the left. Play is then switched to the right before Vazquez floats a ball towards Benzema at the back post but the Frenchman can only fire an effort over the bar.
9'
After a shaky start, the hosts are starting to establish themselves in this game. They are passing the ball around well without looking overly threatening for now.
8'
Raúl García gets yellow.
Raul García catches Kroos late and picks up the first yellow card of the game.
6'
Madrid try and press forward for the first time in the game. Vinicius has the ball on the left flank but can't keep it under control and Simon gathers comfortably.
3'
Athletic are pressing very high in the early stages. Mendy's pass is loose and the ball is worked to Williams who tries to squeeze a shot away, but can't make anything like good enough contact.
1'
Referee Gil Manzano blows his whistle and we are underway in this La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
Williams wins the ball back high up the pitch for Athletic before being crowded out and having to retreat back towards his own half.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the La Liga meeting between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao from the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Los Blancos enter this clash looking to add to their run of two league wins in a row and three in all competitions. Zinedine Zidane was under pressure after successive defeats to Alaves and Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of November and into December, but an upturn in form has seen them climb the league table into third and secure their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Last time out they beat city rivals Atletico who were sitting top of La Liga and ended their unbeaten run in Spain’s top flight that stretched back to February.
Their opponents have made a solid if unspectacular start to this campaign. Gaizka Garitano’s side have lost half of their 12 league matches but sit 13th thanks to four wins and two draws. Despite picking up just one away win so far, the Basque club drew with Getafe and Valencia on their most recent travels so are not to be taken lightly.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy; Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric; Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Diego Altube, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio, Marcelo, Rodrygo, Nacho, Eder Militao, Isco, Andriy Lunin.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Ander Capa, Yeray Alvarez, Inigo Martinez, Yuri; Dani Garcia, Unai Vencedor; Oscar De Marcos, Raul Garcia, Alex Berenguer; Inaki Williams.
ATHLETIC BILBAO SUBS: Unai Lopez, Unai Nunez, Mikel Balenziaga, Jon Morcillo, Oihan Sancet, Asier Villalibre, Inigo Cordoba, Inigo Lekue, Iker Muniain, Jokin Ezkieta, Mikel Vesga, Kenan Kodro.
The teams are emerging from the tunnel and we’re moments away from kick-off.
Real Madrid go in at the break 1-0 ahead thanks to a brilliant strike from Toni Kroos on the stroke of half-time. After a bright start, Athletic's task was made all the more difficult when Raul Garcia received his second yellow card for a challenge on Kroos in the 13th minute. From that moment Los Blancos controlled the majority of the game and should have gone ahead moments before they did when Vinicius had a close-range effort saved. But they got their reward eventually when Kroos smashed home after some lovely play from Valverde and Vinicius.
The visitors have a mountain to climb if they are to get back into this game, but football is a funny old game and there were moments - even with 10 men - where Athletic looked threatening. Garitano will be hoping his side can keep the deficit to one and perhaps sneak a late draw.
Anyway, that's all from me, I hope you enjoyed following this live text coverage. Until next time, goodbye!
With the win, Madrid remain third in the table but are now level on points with Real Sociedad and Atletico. However, Diego Simeone's side have played two games less. Athletic stay 13th for now, but will drop a couple of places if teams below them win their games in hand. Next up for Los Blancos is a trip to face 11th-placed Eibar who are unbeaten in their last five while Athletic host Huesca in a game they’ll be targeting for a win.
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