Real Madrid vs Athletic Club 2025
Review of the thrilling match of La Liga 2024/25
Today, April 20, 2025, the 32nd matchday of La Liga between Real Madrid vs Athletic Club at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Spain thrilled football fans. The match was an opportunity for Real Madrid to close the gap on Barcelona in the La Liga title race, while for Athletic Club, it was an opportunity to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive. In the end, Federico Valverde’s brilliant 93rd-minute goal gave Real Madrid a dramatic 1-0 victory. In this article, we will review all the exciting moments of the match in detail.
The start of the match and the strategy of the first half
The fans’ excitement at the Santiago Bernabeu was at its peak even before the match started. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has given Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo the lead in attack in the absence of Kylian Mbappe. Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde has relied on the speed of Oihan Sanz and Ignacio Williams. Both teams have been attacking from the first minute of the match, but Athletic’s defensive discipline has hindered Real’s chances of scoring. Real Madrid maintained 72% of the ball possession in the first half, but Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simeone made excellent saves. In the 25th minute, Vinicius Junior’s attractive dribble and cross from the left wing was headed by Rodrygo, but the ball fell into Simeone’s hands. Athletic tried to create opportunities through Sanz on the counterattack, but Real’s defense, especially David Alaba, managed to clear the ball. The first half ended 0-0, setting the tone for the exciting second half.
Second Half: Tension and Chances
Real Madrid took a more aggressive approach in the second half. In the 55th minute, Jude Bellingham headed in a close-range header, but Unai Simeone made an incredible save to deny the goal. The moment stunned the fans in the stadium. Athletic also had a chance in the 62nd minute through Iñáki Williams on a counterattack, but his shot went wide of the post.
Real Madrid seemed to have scored in the 75th minute. Vinicius Junior scored with a brilliant dribble from the left flank, but a VAR review ruled him offside. The decision left Real fans disappointed, but the team refused to give up. Ancelotti brought on Lucas Vázquez and Brahim Diaz in the 80th minute, which increased the tempo of the game.
Dramatic finish: Valverde’s goal
Real Madrid continued to pressure Athletic’s defence in the closing minutes. In the 90th minute, Andric’s shot was blocked by defender Daniel Vivian. When everyone thought the game would end in a draw, Federico Valverde produced a magical performance in the 93rd minute. After receiving the ball in midfield, he fired a powerful volley from outside the box, which went beyond Simeone’s reach into the right corner of the goal. The goal sent the Santiago Bernabeu into a frenzy, and the fans chanted Valverde’s name.
Match impact and statistics
The win moved Real Madrid into second place in La Liga with 69 points from 32 games, four behind Barcelona. Athletic Club finished fourth with 57 points. Real had 14 shots in the match, five of which were on target, while Athletic had only three. Real had 72.1% possession, showing their control of the game.
Coach and player reactions
After the match, Carlo Ancelotti praised Valverde, calling him “the key to the game”. He said, “Federico saved us in a difficult time. This win keeps us alive in the La Liga race.” Athletic player Alex Berenguer said, “We fought until the end, but playing at Real’s Bernabeu is always difficult.”
Conclusion
The match between Real Madrid and Athletic Club became a memorable moment of the 2024/25 La Liga season. Federico Valverde’s last-minute goal put Real Madrid in the title race, while Athletic’s defensive performance showed their mettle. Nepali football fans soaked up every moment of the thrilling match, and the victory created a festive atmosphere at the Real Madrid Fan Club Nepal. Now Real’s next match is expected to be on April 23, and fans are looking forward to more excitement.
