Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Real Madrid: Karim Benzema scores exquisite volley as Real chase Barcelona

Karim Benzema became the second top scorer in the history of Real Madrid in LaLiga with the goal that helped them beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at San Mamés.

Raúl scored 228 goals in 550 games; Benzema has matched that in just 425 games, with only Cristiano Ronaldo’s superhuman haul of 311 goals in 292 games surpassing that.

Carlo Ancelotti had started Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio and both were involved in the goal but it was 1 percent perspiration from those two and Fede Valverde was 99 percent inspired by Benzema.

Asensio started the moved pass to Ceballos who played it to Valverde. The Uruguayan hung a hopeful cross into the area and a looping header from Asensio kept him in play. It was then that he fell into the hands of Benzema who, with his back to goal, spun to hook into the far corner of a helpless Unai Simón. It was the goal that brought him to the level of Raúl and what a hit to reach the milestone.

Before the goal, Athletic had enjoyed the best chance with Thibaut Courtois making a good save on Aitor Paredes, but Real Madrid were on top with Asensio putting Yuri Berchiche in trouble. That continued into the second half and when the defender hit him in a tangle early in the second half, he was lucky to get away with only one yellow card.

Simon then saved Nacho’s shot with his chest and the criminally underutilized defender, who only starts due to David Alaba’s injury, cleared the ball at the other end just as Alex Berenguer was about to shoot.

It must have been two for Madrid in the 65th minute when Valverde combined with Benzema on the left and the Frenchman put up Asensio only for him to deflect his shot wide to the far post.

Nico Williams did the same at the other end. He dropped the ball to her and had time to pick his spot, but he sent his shot wide. Vinicius was winding up Athletic and frustrating his coach in equal parts.

Ancelotti told him to focus on playing and to let him protest from the sideline while the challenges came.

With 12 minutes to go, Athletic had the ball in the net. Iker Muniain’s corner kick went headlong to Yuri and when his shot went wide, Courtois made a mistake and had to stop with his legs. The ball went to Iñaki Williams who swept it away but the flag was raised correctly against Gorka Guruzeta.

Madrid was under siege now with Courtois fighting around his six-yard box to clear the next corner.

Vinicius was booked for a late challenge and removed, before worse followed by Ancelotti, who hugged his Brazilian striker as he came out, replaced by Rodrygo.

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos also arrived late and since Athletic threw everything at Madrid in the last few minutes, it was the German who scored the second. Rodrygo advanced the ball and exchanged passes with Valverde. His last pass was slightly behind Kroos, but he adjusted his body and made perfect contact with the ball to pass Simon.

That was the end of the game. Madrid had survived a real test and came through with that late Kroos swagger.

They have started to miss Casemiro lately, and even more so with the injury of Aurelien Tchouameni. But Eduardo Camavinga, Ceballos and Valverde were superb in midfield and with Nacho putting out fires at the back and Benzema lighting them at the other end, they achieved their well-deserved victory and moved three points behind leader Barcelona.