Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Bilbao: Rodrygo nets a sensational brace to secure three points as Carlo Ancelotti’s side prepare for the visit of Man City in the Champions League

Real Madrid won their last match before taking on Manchester City and they did so comfortably without the need for the suspended Vinicius.

There are no league matches next weekend due to the Spanish Cup final and after this 2-0 win, Madrid can sit back and enjoy the view from the top of the table, eight points ahead of second-placed Barcelona with eight games to play.

They had to face Athletic Bilbao, who are playing the final against Mallorca in six days. For Madrid, this was a match won by the ‘other’ Brazilian: the brilliant Rodrygo, forever in the shadow of Vinicius, scored twice and Athletic could offer nothing in return.

It also marked the return of Jude Bellingham after his two-match suspension. He drove the team from midfield and was the creator of the second goal. And there was a third main character. Eder Militao was out for seven months with a cruciate ligament tear, but he returned as a second-half substitute and looked in the right shape to play his role against City.

As soon as the second goal was scored, Real Madrid supporters turned their attention to that match and held up a banner behind the South Goal, calling on everyone in the stadium to wear the famous white shirt during the first leg of the quarter-final on April 9 .

Rodrygo opened the scoring with a thunderous goal after a sublime solo run to the edge of the penalty area

Madrid was not in white for this victory. They debuted their fourth kit and faced Athletic in purple – it was confusing as Athletic were all in white.

However, there was nothing confusing about the first goal. It was pure brilliance from Rodrygo after eight minutes.

With Vinicius missing from suspension, his Brazilian teammate was able to play on the left side of Real Madrid’s attack, where he feels most comfortable.

From a long diagonal pass from Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo cut in from the left flank and beat Julen Agirrezabala with a good shot. It was a reminder of how well he can play in his favorite position. It’s a shame for him that the same place is also where not only Vinicius, but also the upcoming Kylian Mbappé wants to play.

Madrid held onto their lead until half-time and might have doubled it just after the restart when Brahim, the other benefactor of Vinicius’ absence, hit the post.

Athletic came close when Inaki Williams caught a volley perfectly, but Andriy Lunin made a good save.

And with Ernesto Valverde’s side leaving space at the back and Bellingham full of goals, a second Real Madrid goal always looked more likely than an Athletic equalizer.

The Brazilian completed a well-executed counter-attack and doubled his score after the break

Carlo Ancelotti’s side next take on Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League

Bellingham was pushed over in the penalty area by Dani Vivian, but referee Javier Alberola Rojas waved away his appeals.

It didn’t matter as the second goal came on 73 minutes when Bellingham launched the counter-attack and sent Rodrygo clear, again to the left. He dived past Vivian and shot past Agirrezabala.

All Militao had to do was trot back onto the field. The problem was that the ball was in play for so long that it looked like it might not make it. Ultimately, Lunin purposefully kicked it out of the game so Militao could replace Dani Carvajal seven months and 19 days after his injury. It was the perfect end to a perfect night for Madrid.