"Real Madrid Outclass Athletic Bilbao in Dominant Display at the Bernabe"

In a night that epitomized the class and depth of Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, Los Blancos cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu. With the La Liga title race heating up in the final stretch, this performance sent a clear message to their rivals: Madrid are not slowing down.

From the first whistle, Real Madrid looked sharp, organized, and hungry. Despite Athletic Bilbao’s recent good form and their status as a top-five team, they were completely outmatched by a Madrid side firing on all cylinders.

The match's standout performer was none other than Jude Bellingham, the young English midfielder who has taken Spanish football by storm. With a goal and an assist, Bellingham once again proved why he's considered one of the brightest talents in world football.

First-Half Dominance

The tone was set early, with Madrid asserting control of the midfield through the trio of Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde, and Bellingham. Athletic struggled to find time on the ball, their usual fluid passing game disrupted by Madrid’s high press and intelligent positioning.

The breakthrough came in the 18th minute. After a quick combination between Vinícius Jr. and Ferland Mendy on the left wing, the ball was squared to Bellingham at the edge of the box. With his trademark composure, he took one touch to control and another to fire low into the bottom corner, beating Unai Simón with surgical precision.

Athletic Bilbao attempted to respond, pushing forward through Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams, but Real’s defensive line—anchored by Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão—remained solid. Andriy Lunin, deputizing for the injured Thibaut Courtois, was largely untested in the first half, though he handled a couple of speculative efforts well.

Madrid doubled their lead in the 35th minute through Rodrigo Goes, who capitalized on a beautiful through-ball from Bellingham. The Brazilian forward timed his run perfectly, slipped behind the Bilbao defense, and calmly slotted past Simón to make it 2-0.

By halftime, the statistics told the story: Madrid had 68% possession, 10 shots to Bilbao’s 2, and looked in complete control.

Second-Half Control

The second half saw Athletic Bilbao attempt to turn the tide with a double substitution, bringing on Oihan Sancet and Goroka Guruzeta to inject fresh energy. For a brief period, they looked more aggressive, pushing higher up the pitch and trying to pin Madrid back. But the home side’s ability to absorb pressure and counter-attack with speed proved too much.

Vinícius Jr., who had been relatively quiet in the first half, came alive after the break. His dribbling and flair tormented Bilbao’s right-back Óscar de Marcos, and it was from a Vinícius-inspired move that the third goal eventually came. After beating two defenders on the wing, he cut the ball back into the box. A deflection saw it fall kindly to Dani Carvajal, who rifled it into the net in the 71st minute, effectively putting the game to bed.

Bellingham’s Growing Legacy

Jude Bellingham’s performance was once again at the heart of everything good for Madrid. His ability to link play, dictate tempo, and contribute in the final third has made him a complete midfielder at just 21 years old. With 14 goals and 8 assists in La Liga this season, he has become both a fan favorite and a key figure in Ancelotti’s system.

After the match, Ancelotti had high praise for the Englishman:

"Jude plays with maturity beyond his years. He’s always calm, always dangerous, and he gives us something special every time he’s on the pitch."

What This Means for the Title Race

With this win, Real Madrid moved five points clear of second-place Barcelona, who were held to a draw earlier in the weekend. With only seven matches remaining, the momentum firmly favors Los Blancos.

The consistency and depth of the squad have been crucial. Despite injuries to key players like Courtois and Alaba, Madrid have managed to maintain a high level of performance, thanks to the emergence of players like Lunin, Tchouaméni, and the ever-reliable Luka Modrić coming off the bench.

Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, remain in the fight for a Champions League spot but will need to regroup quickly. They’ve been one of the more entertaining teams in La Liga this season, but this result was a harsh reminder of the gulf in class between the title contenders and the chasing pack.

Looking Ahead

Madrid’s focus will now turn to their upcoming Champions League quarter-final second leg, where they face a tough challenge away from home. But with the confidence from this dominant win and the squad firing on all cylinders, few would bet against them progressing.

As the final weeks of the season approach, one thing is clear: Real Madrid look like a team on a mission. And if they continue playing like this, La Liga—and perhaps even more—could be theirs to take.