A dramatic stoppage-time volley from Federico Valverde propelled Real Madrid to a hard-fought 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday. The victory keeps Carlo Ancelotti’s squad within striking distance of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who remain four points clear at the top of the table.
Real Madrid, still reeling from their midweek UEFA Champions League elimination by Arsenal, showcased resilience in a match defined by defensive discipline and late-game drama. Valverde broke the deadlock three minutes into added time, capitalizing on a loose clearance to unleash a spectacular strike into the top corner—a moment hailed by teammate Thibaut Courtois. “Fede has an unusual, powerful shot,” the goalkeeper said. “In training, he nails these weekly.”
Earlier, Vinícius Júnior saw a 79th-minute goal disallowed by VAR due to an offside call against Endrick, while Jude Bellingham’s close-range header was denied by a stunning save from Athletic’s Unai Simón. The visitors, fielding a rotated lineup after advancing to the Europa League semifinals, struggled to generate chances but held firm defensively until Valverde’s decisive intervention.
The loss leaves Athletic Bilbao in fourth place with 57 points, while Real Madrid solidify their second-place standing with 69 points, six ahead of third-placed Atlético Madrid.
