Real Madrid Vs Athletic Bilbao Highlights, La Liga: Valverde's Late Goal Gives Los Blancos Hard-Fought Win

Welcome to our live coverage of the Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao match, which kicks off at 12:30 AM IST.

To find out how to watch the match live in India, read here.

Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Eduardo Camavinga, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, Federico Valverde; Aurelien Tcouamenu, Daniel Ceballos, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric; Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo

Athletic Bilbao: Unai Simon; Adama Boiro, Unai Nunez, Aitor Paredes, Andoni Gorosabel; Mikel Vesga, Benat Prados; Alex Berenguer, Unai Gomez, Alvaro Djalo; Gorka Guruzeta

Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, David Alaba, Francisco Garcia, Jesus Vallejo, Lucas Vazquez, Arda Guller, Brahim Diaz, Endrick

Athletic Bilbao: Julen Agirrezabala, Daniel Vivian, Inigo Lekue, Oscar de Marcos, Yuri Berchiche, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Mikel Juaregizar, Oihan Sancet, Peio Canales, Inaki Williams, Maroan Sannadi

This is how the La Liga 2024-25 points table looks like before the match:

Real Madrid are in second place with 66 points from 31 matches (20 wins, six draws), trailing league-leaders FC Barcelona by six points.

Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao are fourth with 57 points (15 wins, 12 draws), with six points separating them from third-placed Atletico Madrid, and five points separating them from fifth-placed Villarreal.

Meanwhile, the last time these two teams met in the league back in December, Athletic Bilbao won 2-1 at the San Mames, with goals from Alejandro Berenguer Remiro and Gorka Guruzeta.

The referee has blown his whistle, and we are underway at the Santiago Bernabeu. Stay tuned for live updates.

RMA 0-0 ATH (0')

20 minutes of football played, and Real Madrid have been unable to break down the resolute defence of Athletic Club. Vinicius looks frustrated after another shot goes wide, and neither Modric nor Bellingham have been able to work their magic just yet. The Bernabeu crowd is getting more and more impatient.

The home side has almost three-fourths of the possession though.

RMA 0-0 ATH (20')

Vini goes on a run, taking on a number of Athletic Club defenders and creating a chance out of nothing. He shoots from some distance, but it's NOT far away from the top bar this time. The Bernabeu crowd enjoyed that.

RMA 0-0 ATH (28')

Athletic Club have completed just 67% of their passes so far. That's a pretty poor record, especially against an opponent like Real Madrid. Ernesto Valverde really needs to make some changes if the Basque side are going for a win tonight.

RMA 0-0 ATH (36')

It's half-time at the Bernabeu, and the visitors -- despite failing to carve out any chances for themselves -- have frustrated Real Madrid with their solid defensive shape.

RMA 0-0 ATH (HT)

The second half is underway at the Santiago Bernabeu.

RMA 0-0 ATH (45')

A somewhat decent chance for Rodrygo, who cuts inside and tries to curl one in, but it flows just psatt the right side of the goal. The crowd are getting frustrated, and Ancelotti might be looking at the bench now.

Camavinga comes even closer this time, and forces Unai Simon to tip it over the bar after a fantastic counter attacking move started by Vini. Madrid are growing into the game.

RMA 0-0 ATH (49')

Alejandro Berenguer goes down holding his left ankle, and he seems to be in a lot of pain after being involved in a tackle from Camavinga. The players seems to have twisted his ankle. The physios are on.

Change for Real Madrid:

Endrick IN

Dani Ceballos OUT

Chances at both ends in quick succession. Endrick, who just came on the field, is played through by Modric, but hte youngster cannot bring the ball under his control.

On the other side of the pitch, Berenguer -- fit again -- plays through Gomez, who forces a good save from Courtois.

RMA 0-0 ATH (60')

Madrid are getting more and more chances now. Vinicius finds Jude Bellingham with a nice touch of skill, and the midfielder's header is JUST tipped over by Unai Simon.

Bellingham gets another chance from the corner, and tries to get his head on to Modric's ball but it flies wide.

RMA 0-0 ATH (61')

Triple change for Athletic Club:

Oihan Sancet, Inaki Williams, Maroan Sannadi IN

Alex Berenguer, Alvaro Djalo, Gorka Guruzeta OUT

The game is mostly being played in Athletic's final third at the moment. Rodrygo came close with a shot that Unai Simon kept it away. But Madrid are pushing, and they are pushing hard, with their fading title hopes hinging on a win tonight.

RMA 0-0 ATH (70')

Change for Athletic Club:

Inigo Lekue IN

Unai Gomez OUT

Bellingham had a good shot in the box, but it's blocked by the Athletic defence. The away side break forward, and Sannadi is brought down by Asencio, who takes one for the team.

RMA 0-0 ATH (75')

Change for Real Madrid:

Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz IN

Luka Modric, Rodrygo OUT

Vinicius looks to have broken the deadlock and given Real Madrid the lead. But wait, what's happening here? There are shouts for offside, but the referee goes to the on-field monitor to check for a possible foul.

And he decides, no goal! We are back to square one.

RMA 0-0 ATH (83')

Change for Real Madrid:

Lucas Vazquez IN

Raul Asencio OUT

Change for Athletic Club:

Daniel Vivian IN

Adama Boiro OUT

A bouncing cross comes from Brahim Diaz to Jude Bellingham in the box, and he pokes it with his toe but it goes agonizingly over the bar.

The fourth official adds seven minutes of mininum added time.

RMA 0-0 ATH (90')

You can't never count Real Madrid out!! A ping-pong in the box and the ball finds its way to Fede Valverde on the right edge of the box, and the midfielder lets it fly with an outside of the boot shot. The ball takes flight and somehow lodges itself in the top corner. He made it look so easy! Real Madrid with a much-deserved lead.

RMA 1-0 ATH (90+3')

It's the final whistle at Santiago Bernabeu, and the title race is not over just yet! FC Barcelona had a late, late comeback against Celta Vigo last night, and it's Real Madrid's turn, with a 93rd minute goal from Fede Valverde.

RMA 1-0 ATH (FT)

That's it from us for tonight folks! We hope you enjoyed our live coverage of the Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao game.

Thank you for sticking with us, and goodnight.