Athletic cap off a euphoric week

Matchday 26 of the Liga BBVA threw up a thrilling win for Athletic Club. The Bilbao outfit beat Real Madrid 1-0 to get a third successive positive result in the competition. Meanwhile, the Whites, who drew in their last outing against Villarreal (1-1), dropped three valuable points away on their away trip.

The electrifying attitude and tempo with which the Madrid side took to the San Mamés pitch resulted in Karim Benzema taking centre stage during the opening few minutes. However, misfiring by Carlo Ancelotti's charges' allowed Athletic to impose themselves on the game as the minutes ticked by.

Iñaki Williams was the Lions’ most lively player and succeeded in helping his team attack with more purpose and eventually take the lead. A fantastic Artiz Aduriz header made its way into the top corner of Iker Casillas’s net in the 27', sending the Basque stadium into raptures. Madrid answered back through a great Gareth Bale chance, but the home side were able to take their lead into the half-time break.

Real Madrid tried to rectify matters after the restart and looked fresher, but Athletic were able to cope with the pressure and defended with huge spirit. Raphaël Varane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Isco Alarcón all tried in vain to beat Gorka Iraizoz. Bale almost got an equaliser near the death with a long-range effort that came off the post, but the game ended in with a win for the Bilbao team, and Real Madrid dropped points for a second straight weekend.