Athletic Club are now unbeaten in 10 encounters across all tournaments (W7, D3), after substitute Gorka Guruzeta emerged with a match-winner against defending LaLiga title-holders Real Madrid at the San Mamés.
Defeated in just one of their past 26 LaLiga home fixtures (W16, D9), the hosts surged forward, with Thibaut Courtois forced to make a remarkable save to deny Nico Williams inside four minutes. However, the most remarkable and contentious moment of the opening exchanges would fall to the defending titleholders.
Referee José María Sánchez Martínez became the focal point, as he not only decided that Andoni Gorosabel’s tackle on Rodrygo in the area was a legitimate one, but also that Kylian Mbappé’s attempt within the same move should be ruled out for offside.
Athletic responded positively to that reprieve, and Álex Berenguer almost shattered the stalemate shortly after the half-hour mark. Beautifully set up in front of goal by Iñaki Williams’ backheel, the Spaniard somehow sent his shot high into the night sky with only Courtois to beat, leaving the hosts frustratingly still goalless in the opening half.
The hosts didn’t waver from there, and they would eventually find some success only eight minutes into the second period. Looking to atone for his previous personal blunder, Berenguer did exactly that, as he hammered the ball home from beneath the crossbar after N. Williams’ exquisite delivery into the danger zone caused Courtois all sorts of issues.
Now pursuing the match, Real Madrid wasted a brilliant chance to level the score from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, after Julen Agirrezabala punched Antonio Rüdiger in the back of the head to prevent him from reaching an incoming set piece.
Surprisingly, Athletic’s substitute goalkeeper made swift reparations by correctly predicting the direction of Mbappé’s penalty. Mbappé’s shame of successive misses from 12 yards seemed to have been avoided not long after, as Agirrezabala’s inability to hold onto the Frenchman’s attempt from a distance allowed Jude Bellingham to convert the rebound.
However, Federico Valverde’s loss of possession eventually broke down Real’s rhythm, with Guruzeta exploiting the untimely mistake by reclaiming Athletic’s advantage with a brilliantly-struck shot. The long-awaited H2H victory in LaLiga strengthens Ernesto Valverde’s team’s spot in the top four, as the former Barcelona coach celebrates defeating his former club’s biggest rivals.
