Susaeta has the chance to whip a free-kick in from the right-hand side, but the substitute fails to even beat the first man with his delivery. Very disappointing indeed. Muniain then clips a throughball over the top, but Williams is caught narrowly offside.
90'
Williams plays a neat little backheel into the Real Madrid box, but nobody is able to pounce on it aside from Nacho. There are three minutes of second-half stoppage time at San Mames.
88'
Balenziaga curls in a teasing ball from the left-hand side, but De Marcos can't get enough power behind the ball to force Navas into anything more than an easy catch with his header. Athletic are seeing plenty of the ball late on, but they can't seem to find a breakthrough.
86'
Susaeta enters the game and replaces Raúl García.
Raul Garcia is replaced by Susaeta for the dying minutes of this contest, as Valverde looks for a bit of quality in the final third.
85'
Álvaro Morata enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
Morata is given a run out for the last few minutes, as Zidane tries to freshen things up for the final push. Benzema jogs off.
83'
Muniain manages to rob Lucas Vazquez of possession to halt a dangerous attack down the right from Real Madrid, with Zidane's men not committing as many players forward in these dying stages. Isco is playing off Benzema, with the visitors maintaining a solid two banks of four.
82'
The home fans are still urging their team on in these dying stages, but Aduriz isn't getting a regular amount of service up to his feet. Los Leones keep pressing high and trying to force the issue, but Real Madrid are happy to slow the contest right down and ease towards the finish line.
79'
Isco enters the game and replaces Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mikel Rico enters the game and replaces Beñat.
Isco is given the last 10 minutes to impress in the Basque country, with Ronaldo taking his leave.
Mikel Rico is introduced into the midfield third for Athletic, with Benat given a rest.
78'
Williams drills a low shot towards the near post, but his effort deflects shy of the target with the help of a touch from Navas. Athletic bend in a corner from the right as a result, but Ronaldo clears the danger with his head for Real Madrid. Valverde's men are falling short in the final third.
Minute
Description
76'
Marcelo can't seem to keep tabs on Williams, but a curling cross from the Athletic winger is punched to safety by Navas. Muniain then bends a delivery in towards the back post, but Real Madrid's left-back makes a good defensive header. Things are getting very congested in the away penalty box.
74'
Athletic are being invited to attack and put some pressure on, with Williams and Muniain pushing right on. Real Madrid have a lot of players behind the ball, with only Benzema left as an outlet up top. Not long remains for the away outfit to see out.
72'
OVER FROM MARCELO! Benzema is picked out by a neat cut-back from the Brazil international, before the France international sets an unselfish ball into Ronaldo. He takes a shot, which is deflected out to Marcelo, but the visiting left-back can only react quickly to lash an awful shot high of the crossbar.
71'
T. Kroos gets yellow.
Kroos gets a yellow card for a very poor challenge on Laporte, with the ex-Bayern midfielder stepping across the Athletic defender very late.
68'
Casemiro has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo manages to knock a corner delivery down into a dangerous area, with Casemiro reacting first.
GOOOOOOOAL! CASEMIRO MAKES IT 2-1! Athletic fail to deal with a corner, allowing for the Brazil international to tuck home a close-range finish at the back post. The Real Madrid bench empties and Aduriz's goal now means almost nothing.
67'
Real Madrid were looking very comfortable up until that point, but the equaliser has got the home fans believing again. Modric's exit from the game might well prevent Los Blancos from having the same control in midfield. Marcelo shoots from the edge of the penalty area, but a block denies the Brazilian, before Yeray heads away to deny a cross from reaching Ronaldo.
65'
Aduriz has scored a goal for Athletic Bilbao! Assist by Raúl García.
GOOOOOOAL! ADURIZ MAKES IT 1-1! Williams hangs up a good cross to the back post, which Raul Garcia heads square. Aduriz is there to react first in the six-yard box and Athletic are back level! Real Madrid have to rally again.
Raul Garcia is unselfish with his header and Aduriz reaps the rewards.
63'
Williams goes close! The Spanish youngster is found in space by a great cut-back from the right-hand side, but he drags a tame effort within Navas' reach! What a golden opportunity that was.
62'
Lucas Vázquez enters the game and replaces L. Modrić.
Lucas Vazquez comes into the game, with Modric taking his leave. That should see a change of shape from Real Madrid.
59'
Muniain enters the game and replaces Lekue.
Lekue is replaced by Muniain for the final half an hour, with the latter bound to offer more quality in the final third.
58'
Aduriz is not getting any good service this afternoon, with Los Leones struggling to test Navas in this second half particularly. Athletic are having a spell of possession, but Real Madrid are looking comfortable while also maintaining a threat on the counter-attack.
56'
Williams bursts beyond Marcelo and gets to the right byline yet again, but an awful cross from the Spaniard is gobbled up easily by Navas. He is having a very frustrating game. Real Madrid race down the other end on the counter, but Benzema is penalised for a trip on the recovering Benat.
54'
Bale drives down the left-hand side and whips in a cross that searches for Ronaldo, but Yeray slides in to make a good clearance. Real Madrid continue to put some pressure on, but a low shot from the Welshman is deflected wide of the near post by De Marcos.
52'
OFFSIDE! Benzema is picked out on the far side and has the time and space to try his luck from close-range, but Kepa makes a good save. The linesman's flag was up anyhow. If anything, that spares the Frenchman's blushes.
51'
Real Madrid win their first corner of the half, which sees Kroos and Modric play a one-two. The Germany international lifts a cross to the back post, but Athletic clear behind for another set-piece situation. This time, the ball is whipped straight in, but Iturraspe heads the danger away.
49'
Benat clips a free-kick delivery into the penalty box, but Casemiro heads half-clear. Williams plays a one-two with Aduriz down the right-hand side, with the former managing to win a corner, but the set-piece only sees Laporte head a long way shy of the left-hand post.
47'
Williams lifts an enticing ball into the penalty box, which Aduriz manages to direct goalwards. Navas and Ramos get in the way while trying to clear the danger together, which eventually forces Nacho to hack behind for a corner. The hosts whip it in, but the initial danger is cleared, before a second delivery into the box results in Navas getting fouled by Iturraspe.
46'
We are back underway in the second half! The referee might have to keep an eye on this one, as there were some feisty scenes in the opening 45 minutes in the Basque country. Benzema's goal is the difference, but everything is still to play for.
45' +1
There is one minute of stoppage time in this first half.
45'
Athletic just can't seem to piece together any threatening passages of play, with Real Madrid taking control of this one since their goal. Williams clips a cross to the back post, which results in Balenziaga taking aim from a tight angle, but the hosts' left-back's effort is easily charged down.
43'
Benzema goes down with a knee problem, after appearing to twist it in a collision with Benat. The Frenchman asks for some treatment, but appears to be in a bit of pain, with the physios coming straight on. He is quickly inserted back into the action.
41'
Benat looks to find Lekue out on the left, with Balenziaga eventually taking control after a brief intervention from Carvajal. The hosts maintain possession and probe for a gap to exploit, but an eventual cross from the left is caught quite easily by Navas. Athletic have missed that final ball.
39'
A few fouls have broken up the flow of play at San Mames, as Athletic continue to try and hunt in packs before countering upfield at pace. Real Madrid will be content with being sensible until the break, with Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema searching for the right time to make their forward bursts.
37'
Athletic continue to press high in an attempt to frustrate Real Madrid, but once the visitors manage to break the hosts' lines, Benzema and Ronaldo have had a lot of space to play in. Williams is released down the right and curls a cross in from the byline, but Raul Garcia can't rise high enough to steer a header goalwards.
35'
Lekue cuts infield from the left-hand side and clips a delivery towards the back post, but Marcelo climbs above Raul Garcia to nod a defensive header back to Navas. Benzema clips a crossfield pass over to Marcelo, who combines with Ronaldo, but a cross in towards the far upright results in Benzema seeing a close-range effort sail wide.
33'
Narrowly over 10 minutes remain in this first half, with Casemiro and Aduriz needing to watch their steps. Williams beats Marcelo and curls a cross into the box, but Ramos is under no pressure as he clears upfield. De Marcos clips an inviting throughball down the right channel, but Navas is off his line in a flash to collect ahead of Williams.
31'
Casemiro gets yellow.
Casemiro gets a yellow card for jumping unfairly with Aduriz, but there didn't seem to be much in it from the Brazilian. From the resulting free-kick there is a penalty claim, but Aduriz goes down under a push from Carvajal, but again there wasn't much to talk about.
30'
Modric opens play out to the right-hand side brilliantly, with Balenziaga needing to cover across to deny Bale the chance to get into a crossing position. Real Madrid are playing with real confidence, with Aduriz and Raul Garcia's antics seemingly intended to try and distract the away side from sticking to the football.
28'
Aduriz gets yellow.
Dani Carvajal gets yellow.
Aduriz gets a yellow card for his part in a ruckus.
The referee is forced to race in and calm things down, after a coming together between Sergio Ramos and Raul Garcia, with the Brazilian reacting a very late challenge on Nacho. There is a flurry of bookings. Frustrations rising already at San Mames.
Carvajal is also given a booking for his part in the arguments between both sets of players.
26'
Bale lets fly from around 25 yards out, after drifting in from the right dangerously. Kepa struggles to hold the powerful shot initially, but quickly pounces on the rebound. Real Madrid are looking in the mood now, with it the hosts' turn to sit deep and weather a storm.
25'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
GOOOOOOOOAL! BENZEMA MAKES IT 1-0! Ronaldo is fed down the left-hand side and feeds an inviting low cross into the penalty area, before the Frenchman slots a neat finish back across goal and into the bottom-left corner of the net. Zidane's men lead!
Ronaldo picks his spot well and curls an inviting delivery into the Athletic penalty area.
24'
Casemiro escapes an early yellow card, despite scything through the standing leg of Inaki Williams, with the Brazilian midfielder incredibly lucky to get away with that. Athletic continue to look fairly comfortable, but you can sense that Real Madrid are growing in confidence due to the hosts' early pressure subsiding somewhat.
22'
Modric slips a ball over the top for Ronaldo to chase, but Laporte leaves the ball to allow Kepa to collect. The Frenchman opting to let it run almost allows for the Portugal international to nip in and test the Athletic goalkeeper, but the opportunity comes to nothing. Moments later, Marcelo plays a pass into Benzema, but the former Lyon striker can't bring it under control.
20'
Ronaldo wins a free-kick on the left-hand side, with Yeray giving him a push to send him to ground. Kroos whips it in, with Sergio Ramos only able to guide a diving header shy of the back post. That was incredibly close and the Real Madrid captain should have at least hit the target there. Bit of a waste from the Spain international.
18'
Real Madrid are struggling to play their way out of their own half, with Valverde's lines of pressure doing their job well. Benzema is fed down the left-hand side, before curling a brilliant cross to Bale at the back post, but Balenziaga gets there first to lash clear. Kepa punches the resulting corner clear.
16'
Benat whips in a free-kick from the left flank, with the Spaniard dipping in a threatening delivery. Raul Garcia manages to knock it down to Yeray with his head, but the onrushing Athletic centre-back stabs a low finish just beyond the left-hand post. Navas might have done just enough to come out and put off the Spain under-21 international. Real Madrid head up the other end, with Ronaldo forcing a brilliant low stop out of Kepa.
14'
Balenziaga and Lekue link up down the left-hand side, but the latter's final ball is terrible and Kroos mops up. Zidane's men are really struggling to control the game or get forward, with Los Blancos very much playing on the counter. The hosts need to take advantage of this period of pressure and grab an opener.
12'
De Marcos is invited down the right-hand side, before a low cross skips off the turf and narrowly evades Lekue inside the Real Madrid penalty area. Athletic get themselves another corner on the right-hand side, but Benat's delivery is flicked over the crossbar by Iturraspe.
10'
OFFSIDE! RONALDO HAS ONE RULED OUT! The Portugal international manages to smash a close-range effort into the back of the net after a quick break down the right-hand side, but the linesman rightly has his flag up. Athletic respond with a direct ball over the top, but Navas gathers up the loose pass.
9'
Benat bends a corner delivery in from the left-hand side, but Benzema nods clear at the near post, before Aduriz is penalised for a shove on Sergio Ramos in the aftermath. Real Madrid have been struggling to get out of their own half so far, with Athletic pressing high and forcing mistakes from their opponents.
7'
Navas makes his first claim of the match, with a cross from the left-hand side flicked into the arms of the awaiting Costa Rica international. Aduriz manages to direct a back-post cross into a dangerous area, but an acrobatic volley from Raul Garcia is pushed to safety by the Real Madrid goalkeeper. Los Leones then win a corner for themselves, and continue their bright start.
6'
Yeray feeds Lekue down the left, with the Athletic winger jinking infield and onto his right foot. He shoots from 20 yards out, but sees his effort blocked. The hosts keep the pressure on, with Raul Garcia and Aduriz linking up up front, but the latter is caught offside by a flick-on from his teammate.
4'
Ronaldo has been playing a central striking role at times, with Benzema doing more tracking back on the left flank, while Kroos shuffles across when required to intervene defensively. It appears that Zidane is prepared to allow some fluidity up top. Athletic whip a free-kick into the penalty box, but it is hacked away by Nacho.
2'
Lekue skips beyond Carvajal to get to the left byline, but a cut-back from the utility man is deflected wide of the target by Inaki Williams. Early signs of positivity from the hosts. The former has probably been picked as defensive cover for Balenziaga, but that was an exciting early burst forward.
1'
We are underway in the first half at San Mames! Athletic Bilbao have been excellent here all season, but Real Madrid's never-say-die attitude could scrape them yet more important points in the LaLiga title race.
Athletic Bilbao are just four points off Real Madrid and Villarreal in the European places, and need to take advantage of the latter's 1-0 defeat to Las Palmas last night. Valverde's men are in need of a run of form to get back into contention, and at this stage of the season they can't afford to not make the most of playing in the San Mames fortress.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Real Madrid's tough visit to face Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with Ernesto Valverde boasting a record of just one defeat in this stadium against Los Blancos. The visitors need three points to keep on the title hunt, but Los Leones are excellent at home and will be high on confidence after their Basque derby win against Real Soceidad last weekend.
TEAM NEWS: Oscar de Marcos starts at right-back for Athletic Bilbao, after struggling for fitness in the last few weeks. Mikel San Jose is sidelined due to suspension, so Ander Iturraspe anchors the midfield alongside Benat. Aritz Aduriz leads the line, with Inigo Lekue preferred to Iker Muniain on the left-hand side of the attack due to his work rate. Inaki Williams is deployed on the opposite flank.
TEAM NEWS: Gareth Bale returns to the forward line for Real Madrid after a two-game suspension, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo making up the BBC once again. Casemiro offers midfield balance, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric flanking the Brazilian. Nacho starts alongside Sergio Ramos in central defence, with Raphael Varane and Pepe not fit enough to make the matchday squad. No recognised centre-back on the visiting bench.
Athletic Bilbao substitutes: Iraizoz, Boveda, Elustondo, Muniain, Susaeta, Mikel Rico, Saborit.
Athletic Bilbao starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Kepa; De Marcos, Yeray, Laporte, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe; Inaki Williams, Raul Garcia, Lekue; Aduriz.
Real Madrid substitutes: James, Casilla, Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez, Morata, Isco, Danilo.
Real Madrid starting line-up (4-3-3): Navas; Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
HALF-TIME! Real Madrid go into the interval with a 1-0 lead given to them by a neat close-range finish from Benzema. Athletic started brightly, but couldn't find the opening goal, with Zidane's men since taking control a little more. They are halfway to picking up a huge three points on the road.
FULL-TIME! Real Madrid take another huge three points in LaLiga and secure their place at the top of the table for the international break, courtesy of goals from Benzema and Casemiro. Ronaldo provided two assists for the away side, who were briefly scared by a goal from Aduriz, but eventually Zidane's men ground out a tight win. That's all that we have time for, we hope to see you again next time.
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