'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid grilled out a 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points after gameweek 15.
Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game to seal all three points for Real Madrid. The Frenchman finished off a beautiful team move to seal the game in favor of Los Blancos. But the score-line doesn't tell the exact story.
Real Madrid were lucky to escape with all three points. Athletic Bilbao could not score a single goal despite having an xG of 2.7. Bilbao's manager Marcelino expressed his disappointment in his post-game interview, saying that his team did everything right except for finishing. Real Madrid's grit and perseverance proved just enough to get by.
Trending
On that note, here's a look at the five talking points from the game:
#5 Vinicius Jr. lit up the left flank for Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr. is in the best form of his life. The Brazilian might not have scored tonight, but was quite instrumental in the build-up to the goal. The 21-year-old combined beautifully with Luka Modric in the passage of play that led to Benzema's goal.
Vinicius tormented Inigo Lekue enough that he was taken off by Marcelino after half-time. But his replacement Oscar de Marcos faced a similar fate as the Brazilian was just too hot to handle. His tricks and flicks yielded no response and left the defenders bamboozled. Vinicius won nine duels, created five chances and won two tackles throughout the game.
#4 Carlo Ancelotti will have to make more rotations
Carlo Ancelotti will have many things to think about after today's performance. The 62-year old will have to rotate his squad heavily as signs of weariness are quite evident. Although Real Madrid started the game on a more positive note, they faded away in the second half.
Thibaut Courtois also acknowledged that the team lacked intensity in the second half as some players have not had much rest. Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric were at the top of their games in the opening half, but signs of fatigue were quite explicit in the second half. Ancelotti will have to manage their minutes as it is quite evident that the team can't go on like this.
#3 Athelic Bilbao rued their missed chances
Athletic Bilbao could have sealed the game in the first half, but poor finishing let them down against Real Madrid. The visitors scuffed three clear-cut chances in a span of five minutes. Inaki Williams missed two golden chances after a couple of unforced errors from Real Madrid's back-line.
Following that, Raul Garcia too missed an easy chance as he headed the ball straight to Thibaut Courtois who saved it with ease. Had the visitors scored any of their chances early on, Real Madrid would have had a tough job on their hands.
#2 Karim Benzema continues his onslaught for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema scored the winning goal of the night for Los Blancos. With this goal the Frenchman took his tally to 12 for the season. Benzema slotted in a mis-hit ball from Luka Modric to hand Real Madrid the lead in the 40th minute of the game.
Benzema persistently tried to get on the scoring end and even forced two great saves from Unai Simon before finally netting one in. Moreover, he was quite instrumental to Real's transition play higher up the pitch. Everything went through the Frenchman.
#1 A rock solid performance from Real Madrid's back-line in the second half
Athletic Bilbao looked like the superior side in the second half, but Real Madrid's back-line ensured they came out on top. Following a scrappy first half, Eder Militao and David Alaba gathered themselves and thwarted everything that came their way.
Meanwhile, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy defended like warriors on the flanks. The Spaniard's workrate was quite impressive and the amount of ground he covered back and forth to put in those vital blocks was quite comendable.
On the other hand, Thibaut Courtois was a rock between the sticks. The Belgian made vital saves to deny the visitors. His weekly performances cast doubt on how he could have finished eighth in the voting for the recently awarded Yashin Trophy.
