Considering Real Madrid's performances of late even while playing under Zidane 2.0 version, the scoreline seem to be pretty much surprising.
No one, not even me expected the men in whites who have nothing to play for bar pride to put in a decent if not inch perfect performance against a team struggling for European participation next season, but here we are, reality dawned on us that Real Madrid came out with the intention to win, and boy they did.
Zidane prepared and set out a starting line up which clearly showed a wing battle is to be expected in this encounter with Athletic Bilbao known to be a team very good on the wings, using the electrifying pace of their winger/striker Inaki Williams to full effect.
Keylor Navas continued between the sticks. Raphael Varane and Jesus Vallejo partnered each other in central defence while Dani Carvajal and Marcelo covered both ends of the defensive line.
Favorite LCT midfield trio of Zinedine Zidane in Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos filled the centre. Marco Asensio, Lucas Vasquez flanked Karim Benzema.
The first half kicked off with Real Madrid on the front foot, passing around the ball and limiting Athletic Bilbao's chances on it. They defended brilliantly but were more effective defensively than they were offensively. Marcelo who was the captain in the absence of Sergio Ramos was the same episode of the Marcelo we ponder what is happening to him this season. A complete shadow of the Marcelo we once knew. His one v one encounters and as well, his defensive ability still leaves very much to be desired but we have grown to be understandable and considerate of such Marcelo because what he lacks in defence, he makes up for in attack.
However, in this match, Marcelo failed to stamp his authority on this match despite the ball spending much of the time on his wing, his crossing was below par and end ball a bit disappointing. He, Asensio and Benzema were the main fog in attack in a first half that produced defensive aspirations than attack. Both teams were solid at the back especially Raphael Varane who fought all kind of battle and won successfully with Inaki Williams.
The first half ended with both teams drawing each other out but the second appeared much different. Real Madrid came into the second half and kicked it up a gear. Asensio's run into tight spaces and dribble improved and it wasn't long until his inch perfect cross met the head of Benzema 3 minutes after the second half restarted to put Real Madrid ahead.
That goal only but increased the morale of the team and they would get another through Benzema from a corner, another header from the French man in the 76th minute.
Inaki Williams appeared to switch position, running away from Raphael Varane and hoping to find the space with Jesus Vallejo but the Spaniard marshalled the attacker very well just like his partner did.
Karim Benzema would take the match ball home in the 90 minute after a mistake by Athletic Bilbao's goalie left an empty net for him to curl the ball into from outside the 18 yard box.
Conclusion
A tale of two halves this was and Real Madrid turned out to be the better team in all section of the pitch. The main standout performer in my own eyes isn't the Hat Trick man Benzema but young defender Jesus Vallejo.
Prior to this start handed to him by Zinedine Zidane, the young Spaniard had only played just two minutes in the whole of the La Liga season against Real Valladolid while spending much amount of the remaining minutes on the treatment table. He never showed any serious signs of rustiness bar his inability to play forward passes and preferred feeding his closest man, but then, he played like the Vallejo Real Madrid brought back from Real Zaragoza, confident and strong on the ball all night and read his environment well, making crucial intervention including one that would have led to an Athletic Bilbao goal.
We can't talk all night about impressive Real Madrid players without mentioning the man with the Thanos-esque infinity gauntlet in Karim Benzema. The French man has been in an impressive goal scoring form and is two goals away from replicating and bettering his goal tally in the 2011/2012 season.
He has scored 30 goals in total this season and 21 league goals which includes the past 8 goals Real Madrid have scored against Valencia, Huesca, Eibar, Leganese and now, Athletic Bilbao. Surprising stats of the day is Benzema, for the first time in his life Real Madrid footballing career appears to be ending the season with more league goals than super attacker Cristiano Ronaldo who has 19 to his name today. GIVE IT UP FOR SUPER BENZ!
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