MADRID: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hailed his side’s character to hold off an Athletic Bilbao onslaught as Casemiro proved their unlikely hero in a vital 2-1 win on Saturday.
The Brazilian midfielder slotted home from close range 22 minutes from time to move Madrid five points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
“We were made to suffer a lot, but at the same time we played with a lot of character,” said Zidane.
“It was a hugely important game to win and continue with our good run.”
Karim Benzema fired the visitors into a half-time lead from Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross before Aritz Aduriz briefly levelled for Athletic.
Barcelona can cut the gap back to two points when they face Valencia at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Defeat ends Athletic’s 19-game unbeaten run at home as they remain four points off the European places in seventh.
“We clearly dominated the game,” Aduriz told BeIN Sports Spain.
“We surrounded their box, perhaps without creating clear-cut chances, but they had two chances and scored two goals.”
Madrid settled after a bright first 10 minutes from Athletic and had the ball in the net in their first serious attack only to be denied by the offside flag.
Dani Carvajal timed his run to meet Benzema’s through ball but he squared to Ronaldo when going for goal would have been the better option, and the World Player of the Year’s tap-in was ruled out.
Six minutes later Ronaldo was denied again, this time by a stunning save from Kepa Arrizabalaga as the young goalkeeper leapt low to his left to turn the ball to safety.
Sergio Ramos should have continued his remarkable goalscoring streak when he then headed wide when unmarked from a Toni Kroos free-kick.
Madrid finally made the breakthrough on 25 minutes as Casemiro’s ball over the top for Ronaldo broke Athletic’s offside trap and the Portuguese produced an inch-perfect low cross for Benzema to slot home his sixth goal in as many games against Athletic.
Real continued to threaten on the counter-attack as Arrizabalaga was called into action once more to save Gareth Bale’s drive from the edge of the area.
However, the visitors had to withstand an aerial bombardment at the start of the second half.
A mix-up between Keylor Navas and Ramos nearly saw the latter turn a loose ball into his own net.
Navas then made amends for a serious of high-profile errors in recent weeks with a fine save when one-on-one with Inaki Williams.
The pace of Williams down the right was a constant threat for Athletic and he finally got his reward 25 minutes from time when his cross was headed back across goal by Raul Garcia and nodded in from close range by Aduriz.
The lead lasted just three minutes, though, as for the umpteenth time this season, Madrid found a winner from a corner.
Kroos’s delivery was flicked on by Ronaldo and midfielder Casemiro was completely alone inside the six-yard box to slot home from close range.
Marcelo should have put the game to bed 18 minutes from time when be blasted over from point-blank range after a brilliant team move involving Benzema and Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was surprisingly replaced by Isco 12 minutes from time, but Zidane’s decision was vindicated as Real held out to take a huge step toward a first La Liga title in five years.
Casemiro sends ‘suffering’ Madrid five points clear
Casemiro sends ‘suffering’ Madrid five points clear
Al-Hilal complete second-half comeback against ten-man Al-Nassr to extend SPL lead
- Simone Inzaghi’s side move onto 38 points after a 3-1 victory, seven clear of Al-Nassr
- Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi was sent off in the 60th minute for violent conduct
RIYADH: It was an evening of football drama in Riyadh as the much-anticipated Capital Derby between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr took place at the Kingdom Arena in the headline fixture of Matchday 15. With Al-Nassr four points behind the league leaders prior to the game, victory was essential for Jorge Jesus’ side as they remain in search for their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years.
The game kicked off at a slow place. Inzaghi, setting up his Al-Hilal side in a 5-4-1 defensive shape, tried to draw Al-Nassr deep into their half to exploit them on the counter. With Rúben Neves playing in the middle of a back three, his long passes proved key for the Blues as they targeted the space behind Al-Nassr’s defence.
Al-Nassr did not respond as expected. Jesus’ side have played at a blistering pace this season, characterised by a relentless high press, but this encounter saw Al-Nassr adopt a more cautious approach. Instead, they relied on moments of individual brilliance to break past the compact Al-Hilal structure.
Kingsley Coman was central to that strategy, as his movement between the channels saw the visitors’ most dangerous momment in the 19th minute. Mohammed Al-Rubaie, who had a shaky start in goal, managed to tip the ball wide for a corner.
Neither side appeared willing to overcommit, with the play concentrated in midfield. It was there that João Félix, spotting Coman on the shoulder of his defender, lofted a pass from deep to release the Frenchman, who laid it off to Cristiano Ronaldo for the opener.
Jesus’ first-half paid off, with the goal on the cusp of half-time giving Al-Nassr a vital boost heading into the break. They managed to keep the pressure on early in the second half, but the tide changed within minutes.
Malcom, attempting to cut inside for a shot, was brought down by Mohamed Simakan for a penalty in the 56th minute. Salem Al-Dawsari slotted it with confidence to bring the hosts back into the game, but the defining moment followed shortly after.
As Al-Hilal attempted to retrieve the ball from the net, Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi intervened. In the ensuing scramble, he struck Neves in an incident deemed violent conduct by the referee as he was given his marching orders in the 60th minute.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Al-Nassr did not retreat. However, with Angelo sacrificed for replacement goalkeeper Mubarak Al-Buainain, their attacking threat diminished, making clear chances increasingly difficult to come by.
This opened the door for Al-Hilal’s return into the game, and in the 81st minute, a pinpoint cross by Neves from the left flank found Mohammed Kanno who finished to give the hosts the lead.
Ronaldo was substituted soon after, as Jesus sought fresh impetus through youngster Wesley, but the change failed to alter the course of the match. Al-Hilal were once again awarded a penalty after Al-Dawsari was brought down in stoppage time, before Neves stepped up to convert his penalty for Al-Hilal’s third of the night.
Al-Nassr, who began the season with ten consecutive wins, have now gone four games without a victory — three of them defeats. Their tally freezes at 31 points, as Al-Hilal move clear at the summit onto 38.
Elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Hazem moved further clear of the relegation zone after a stunning comeback against Al-Najma. The latter, who were minutes away from their first win of the season, conceded two goals in the sixth and eighth minute of stoppage time to succumb to a 3-2 defeat. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq welcomed Al-Khaleej in the Eastern Province, losing 2-1 after a Jack Hendry own goal in the 86th minute gifted the visitors the win.
Action returns on Tuesday, with Al-Okhdood facing Al-Kholood at 6:25pm, followed by Al-Fateh against Al-Riyadh and Damac against Al-Ittihad, both kicking off at 8:30pm.
