Crucial victory that keeps the Whites alive and well in the fight for the title
Real Madrid did well to defeat a feisty and needy Athletic Bilbao. The new faces on Fabio Capello's starting eleven payed off, but it was Sergio Ramos, a usual suspect in the Italian's initial lineups, who scored the opening goal. Later, an excellent play by Emerson and Cicinho ended with a goal by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who went on to net yet another strike later on in the evening. Finally, Guti also wanted to join in the goal scoring feast and netted the team's fourth after a phenomenal individual counterattack. Despite the final score, the Whites had to fight hard for a victory, but they won none the less and continue being the best visiting side in the League this season.
Things looked difficult for Real Madrid at first as both Sevilla and Barcelona won their respective games against Espanyol and Levante, forcing the Whites to take make an extra effort at San Mamés Stadium. Fabio Capello's starting eleven was somewhat surprising. Helguera, Gago and Higuaín were dropped while David Beckham and Cicinho started. The latter rejoined the team for the first time in seven months after recovering from the serious injury on his knee and the Englishman had earned a spot in the Italian's initial lineup after the great performance he gave against Valencia. The midfield was taken by Emerson and Diarra. The great performances given by every single one of them tonight proved Fabio Capello's choice of men to be spot-on.
Captain Joseba Exteberria led the Lions' pack onto the pitch of San Mamés Stadium to the sound of the roars of their fans, who made it seem the stadium was packed, when it wasn't. Despite the locals' necessity and drive to distance themselves from the drop zone, a childish error on the 13-minute mark gave way to Real Madrid's opening goal. A free-kick was awarded to the Whites and three defenders were onto Ruud van Nistelrooy inside the box, making the mistake of leaving Sergio Ramos, a great threat, by himself. Beckham gave a pitch-perfect delivery once again, finding Ramos positioned on the back post and the ball was headed in by the defender, who tallied his fourth goal of the season. The Sevillian's performance tonight was superb, showcasing his great quality both in the defence and in the attack.
Lions in the attack, cats in the defence
The Basques couldn't afford giving up and, after the Whites' goal, they pulled off a good run of attacks, reaching Casillas' goal several times, but without much danger. Iraola kicked the ball over the crossbar in the 15th minute, missing his team's best chance of the encounter. Athletic attacked like lions but defended like cats and every attack by Real Madrid nervously raised the crowd in The Cathedral -as San Mamés is popularly known in Spain. David Beckham had a colossal game. He first stole the ball in an individual counterattack, after which, he shifted the attack with a 30 metre-long cross. Soon after, he faced the keeper one-on-one and was served an excellent ball, but he failed to head it in..
Cicinho and Emerson also proved to be right choices for the starting lineup and devised an excellent play from which the team's top scorer -aka Ruud van Nistelrooy- tallied yet another goal in his impressive goal count. Emerson got rid of Murillo with a brilliant nutmeg that led to an excellent one-two with Cicinho. The latter finished it off with a terrific cross into Ruud van NIstelrooy's head and the Dutchman impressively headed it into the back of the net, tallying his 25th goal of the season... But number 26 was yet to come.
Killer Van Nistelrooy
Real Madrid were somewhat calmer and more at ease after half-time and 'Van the Man' managed to score his third goal -eighteenth in the League- as early as the 49th minute. Beckham served him a perfect corner and the Dutch striker, despite having three defenders on him, managed to control it, look up and drill it into the goal. It was simply perfect.
Athletic were powerless and could do nothing to stop Real Madrid, despite bringing on all their main attacking players -Urzaiz, Yeste and Llorente-, who were nevertheless decisive in the improvement of their team's game. Llorente managed to score the goal that saved his team from utter shame, heading in an excellent free-kick by Yeste on the 80-minute mark. Prior to the goal, Bilbao had several chances through Murillo (58'), Iraola (64'), Urzaiz (71') and Adaruiz (72'), but they were all in vain because Iker Casillas was always there to save the day. Gonzalo Higuaín, who had replaced Van Nistelrooy, came close to scoring the Whites' fourth from an individual counterattack, but luck still avoids the Argentine and his shot ricoched off the post.
It was Guti who scored the Madridistas' fourth goal in the 83rd minute, beating keeper Aranzubia by flicking the ball over him after an excellent individual run. This way, Real Madrid sentenced the game and earned yet another victory that keeps them alive and well in the fight for the League title. With this victory as visitors, the Whites have equalled the records they established in the 1960/61 and 1987/88 seasons by snatching ten victories away from the Bernabéu. Tonight's game at San Mamés was therefore a new stepping stone in Real Madrid history.
Referee: Muñiz Fernández. Booked Cannavaro, Murillo, Urzaiz and Beckham.
Goals: 0-1 (13'): Sergio Ramos heads in a free-kick by Beckham to the far post. 0-2 (34'): One-two by Cicinho and Emerson that ends with a goal by Ruud Van Nistelrooy. 0-3 (49'): Van Nistelrooy drills in a corner kick by Beckham on the penalty spot. 1-3 (80'): Llorente heads in a free-kick by Yeste 1-4 (83': Guti scores after an individual counterattack.
Highlights: Matchday 32 of La Liga. Venue: San Mamés Stadium. The President of Real Madrid, Ramón Calderón, sat with the Vicepresident of Panamá, Samuel Lewis, in the Presidential Balcony.
