2023

June 4, 2023

Real Madrid Stumbles against Athletic Bilbao on Benzema’s Farewell Night

Introduction:
On a significant evening marking Karim Benzema’s farewell, Real Madrid faced a stumbling block as they settled for a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao in the final round of La Liga. Ohan Sunset opened the scoring for Athletic Bilbao in the 49th minute, and Benzema equalized for Real Madrid with a penalty kick in the 72nd minute.

Early Pressure and Penalty Drama

Athletic Bilbao started the match with pressure, and an early hand ball by Toni Kroos inside the penalty area resulted in a penalty kick for the Basque team. However, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois displayed brilliance by saving Mikel Vesga’s penalty in the 11th minute.

Real Madrid’s Offensive Attempts

Real Madrid fought back with Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo Joyce leading the attack. Unai Simon made impressive saves to deny Vinicius’ shot, while Courtois showcased his skills with a save against Yuri Perisic. Rodrigo’s individual effort nearly resulted in a goal, but the first half ended goalless.

Athletic Bilbao Takes the Lead

At the start of the second half, a mistake by Dani Ceballos led to De Marcos intercepting the ball and passing it to Ohan Sunset, who found the net twice to give Athletic Bilbao the lead in the 49th minute.

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Benzema’s Penalty Equalizer

Real Madrid was awarded a penalty kick after a strong tackle on Eder Militao by Perisic, and Benzema stepped up to convert it successfully, leveling the score in the 72nd minute.

Disallowed Goal and Draw Conclusion

Vinicius Junior thought he had scored the winning goal in the 79th minute, but it was disallowed due to offside. Despite both teams’ efforts to secure a victory, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

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Conclusion:

Real Madrid’s final league match of the season ended in disappointment as they were unable to secure a win on the night of Karim Benzema’s farewell. Athletic Bilbao showcased resilience and took the lead, but Benzema’s penalty equalizer salvaged a point for Real Madrid. The draw concluded Real Madrid’s La Liga campaign, leaving them with 78 points in the league table, while Athletic Bilbao finished in eighth place with 51 points.