Real Madrid 5 – 1 Athletic Bilbao: The “REAL” Madrid

Real Madrid thrashed Athletic Bilbao with a far comfortable score line 5 -1, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing out on the score sheet.

After a brief period of injuries, Real Madrid find their “REAL” first team with Coentrao, Khedira and Benzema making a comeback.

Jose Mourinho, though, didn’t start with Di Maria and Khedira, keeping in mind the Champions League match ahead on Wednesday.

The first shot of the match came through Ronaldo from Ramos’ well measured long ball which he headed past the goal and fell on the ground catching his head. The injury sure hasn’t worn out.

Luka Modric played alongside Xabi Alonso. Both shielded the defense effectively and always looked to retain the possession by pressing well on the opposition.

The first goal of the game came through Benzema, assisted by Modric’s long ball from the Real Madrid half. But to Benzema’s disappointment, it was given an own goal due to Jon Borde’s crucial last touch.

Sergio Ramos had a neat game, feeding the forwards with accurate passes and quite a few threatening runs.

He had plenty of shots on goal with one bouncing of the post and another one a free header from Ozil’s set piece to make it 2 – 0 for Madrid.

The third goal came of Karim Benzema just after two minutes, and this time he got on the score sheet with an intelligent turn and curl shot.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a decent night with improved passing and plenty of shots on goal. Most of them turned out to be tame and so he couldn’t find the net.

In the last five minutes of the first half, Ronaldo provided an early cross to Callejon which he shot directly at the post and missed a great chance to make it 4 -0.

Athletic Bilbao were quick to react and scored a goal with a low cross from Susaeta which Gomez curled into the far post of the net.

Iker Munian did not deliver what was expected of him and found himself replaced at the start of the second half by Fernando Llorente, who is yet to start a game for Athletic Bilbao.

Madrid’s 4th goal involved only 4 players, starting off with Casillas’s goal kick then Ronaldo’s fine control with a lovely pass through to Benzema, then square to Ozil and into the net for his first goal in the Spanish League. Then within 2 minutes, Benzema almost made it 5 -1 but for the header of the Athletic Bilbao’s left back Jon Borde just off the line.

Mourinho used all his replacements in the second half for Real Madrid with Khedira coming on for Ozil at the hour mark, Di Maria for Jose Callejon and the Levante game winner Morata for Benzema.

Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa made a brilliant run on the right flank and provided Khedira with a well-placed ball for his first goal in La Liga as well, along with his German team mate Mesut Ozil.

Athletic Bilbao only made quite a few attacking runs later in the last 20 minutes and looked dull to even have a shot at goal, which pretty much summed up their night.

With Manchester City needing a desperate win to have any chances in the Champions league and Real Madrid back with their usual starting eleven and in prime form, the Etihad stadium is set to be electrified and the fans can happily expect a good 90 minutes supporting their teams.