Real Madrid 3:0 Athletic Bilbao
Nobody wanted to miss the party. The Bernabéu was packed with enthusiastic fans, excited about taking a victory against Athletic Bilbao despite knowing that it wouldn’t give the team the League title yet due to Villarreal’s victory over Betis. Saviola, Robben and Higuaín scored the three goals of the clash.
The players don’t mind when or where they win the title and fought tremendously hard throughout the encounter. Saviola was the new face on Bernd Schuster’s line-up and some reshuffling was done in defence due to Fabio Cannavaro’s suspension, with Pepe and Heinze teaming up as centre backs flanked by Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.
Real Madrid wanted a victory and to thrill the fans with a good show. Sneijder had the first chance from a long shot on the 10-minute mark. The keeper later deflected a strike by Raúl onto Sneijder’s boots. The Dutchman shot, the ball was cleared again by the keeper and Saviola picked it up and scored his third goal of the season (13′). A mere victory wasn’t enough for the Whites tonight and they kept putting a siege on Bilbao’s goal, especially through Robinho and Saviola; the Brazilian missed a clear chance in the 18th minute and the Argentine tested the goalie’s reflexes on many a time.
Athletic also tried to surprise Iker Casillas, who saved the day by impressively clearing Extebarría’s powerful shot from outside the box on the 29-minute mark. Both sides had one chance after the other, proving to be extremely focused on the game. At one point, Gabriel Heinze tackled Llorente late inside the box and a penalty was awarded to Bilbao, but Iker Casillas yet again pulled rank and saved Garmendia’s shot.
The second half was very similar to the first. Both sides looked for a goal and put on a great show. Gurpegui had a great chance in the 52nd minute, while Real Madrid’s most dangerous play was finished with a shot by Sneijder that was cleared for a corner kick (60′).
Six minutes later, Guti’s shot was cleared by Armando. Schuster then decided to replace Raúl and Robinho with Robben and Higuaín and the move simply couldn’t have been better; soon after taking the pitch, the Argentine crossed the ball into the centre of Bilbao’s box for Robben to slam it into the back of the net (77′). The crowd went wild and sang the victory chant, only to see how Higuaín netted the team’s third strike one minute later, buy controlling the ball beautifully and shooting it right past the near post (78′).
The three points taken tonight have put Real Madrid closer to the title than ever before this year. Despite Villarreal’s victory in Seville, excitement ruled throughout the encounter at the Bernabéu and the fans celebrated the victory as if the title had been won.
MATCH REPORT
3 - Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo; Sneijder (Drenthe, 86’), Gago, Guti, Robinho (Robben, 72’); Saviola & Raúl (Higuaín, 72’).
0 - Athletic: Armando; Iraola, Amorrebieta, Gurpegui, Koikili; Garmendia, Javi Martínez, Susaeta (Murillo, 79’), Gabilondo (Aduriz, 77’); Llorente & Etxeberría. (realmadrid.com)
Goals:
1-0, 13”: Saviola.
2-0, 73′: Robben.
3-0, 78′: Higuaín.
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