Fede Valverde’s stunning strike in the 93rd minute secured a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, keeping them close behind Barcelona in the Spanish title race.
With this win, Madrid remained four points behind Barcelona, thanks to Valverde’s powerful shot that curled into the top corner of the net.
After being eliminated from the Champions League by Arsenal, it seemed that Madrid was headed for another disappointing result until the Uruguay international made a crucial play in stoppage time.
“Fede has such a great shot. In training yesterday, he hit a ball that looked like it was going wide, but then it curled and you think, ‘How does he shoot like that?’” said Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “He does that once or twice a week in training.”
Athletic Bilbao, who advanced to the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday by defeating Rangers, rotated their squad significantly for this match. Despite the changes, the Basque side was a tough opponent for Madrid, especially since their top goalscorer, Kylian Mbappé, was suspended and recovering from an ankle injury.
Some fans expressed their frustration with Mbappé for not helping the team overcome Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier in the week, as he was seen watching the game on stadium screens.
“Valverde was key in this game because he scored the goal,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “The team performed well; we were a bit slower in the first half but looked much better in the second.”
After their European elimination, Madrid played with intensity, aiming to keep their La Liga hopes alive after Barcelona’s late comeback victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
This win gives Madrid renewed hope of salvaging their season and provides a morale boost ahead of next weekend’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
