Karim Benzema netted a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu which meant he has now scored Real Madrid's last eight goals. Athletic Bilbao saw their Europa League hopes take a hit in a game which they struggled to get into.
The first half was very stop start with lots of fouls. Real Madrid were on top, but there was very little in the way of goalmouth action. Cordoba picked up an early yellow for a foul on Carvajal and Yuri and Raul Garcia also saw yellow in the first half in a dull opening period. Marco Asensio was looking sharp for the hosts and he was good down Athletic Bilbao's right hand side on various occasions. Athletic had the first move though in the sixth minute when Cordoba made a good run, he passed for Yuri on the near flank and then Williams tried to get on the end of a cross.
Asensio tried to find Benzema in the area shortly afterwards and then in the 13th minute, Real Madrid had one of their best opportunities of the half. Marcelo ran down the far side, he passed for Asensio and he quickly passed for Vazquez in the area who flicked it back to Marcelo. The Brazilian's effort then flew off the bar. Inaki Williams was played through before the defence stopped him on the quarter hour, but both goalkeepers were hardly tested. In fact both teams only had one shot each in the first period.
Athletic looked dangerous the few times they attacked and in the 39th minute, Iker Muniain spotted Lekue on the far flank and Cordoba was unable to get on the end of the cross at the far stick. Carvajal just put him off a bit and that was enough to distract the Athletic man. Three minutes later and it was almost 0-1. Raul Garcia got his head on Benat's corner, but the header went straight to Navas. In the closing stages, Carvajal tried to draw a second yellow out of Cordoba by keeping the ball at him from close range, but the referee, Mario Melero Lopez, was not swayed by the home protests.
In the second half, it was a completely different story. Real Madrid came out quick out of the blocks and they swiftly found the breakthrough. Just two minutes after the break, Kroos gave the ball to Asensio on the near side and the Mallorcan put in a splendid cross for Benzema to head in from just outside the six yard box. It was a brilliant counter after Cordoba's dangerous ball in for Williams inside the six yard-box was cut out by a sliding Jesus Vallejo. It went from a possible 0-1 to 1-0 in less than 30 seconds.
Gaizka Garitano's side were shaken by the goal and Kroos nearly made it two in the 49th minute. Modric was played through and the Croatian sent in a cross which Marcelo let go, Kroos picked up and his effort was deflected. Marcelo fires over from outside the box from the resulting over and the away side looked to be unable to complete with the Madrid pressure.
In the 56th minute, Benzema hit wide of the post after a pass from Lucas Vazquez when Bilbao had claimed a handball by Marcelo at the other end. Casemiro made quite a few fouls, but avoided a yellow card and one foul on Yuri did not even get called by the official.
Two minutes before Real Madrid made it 2-0. it was nearly 1-1. A long ball was sent for Williams by Benat, he headed down to Raul Garcia and he shot from outside the box straight at Navas. In the 76th minute, Real doubled their lead and Athletic Bilbao only had themselves to blame. Firstly, they made a substitution just before defending a corner when Aduriz came on for Garcia and then from the set-pìece, Herrerin came running out of his goal and Karim Benzema only had to head into an empty net at the far post.
Jesus Vallejo was key once again ten minutes from time when Inaki Williams was played in by Aduriz. As he was about to play the trigger, the young defender slid in to dispossess him. Just afterwards, Athletic Bilbao had another go. Unai Lopez put in a fantastic ball for Aduriz on the edge of the six yard box and the number 20 headed over. Athletic would still have another chance at 2-0 in the 87th minute when Navas had to deny Williams from point blank range. Muniain found Unai Lopez down the flank and the cross was superb for Williams. Navas dived to make a tremendous save with his leg though.
Real Madrid also continued to batter the Bilbao door. The substitute, Brahim Diaz, was given the ball by Modric, he turned past Lekue before Iago Herrerin denied him at the near post. In the 89th minute, Bale was one on one with the goalkeeper, buit his chip was slightly too strong and landed on the top of the net. Benzema finally completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute. Herrerin came charging out of his area after a long ball by Isco for Bale, the goalie only headed it tamely straight at Yuri and the ball broke for Benzema to fire into an open goal from 30 yards. Another goalkeeping error.
Real Madrid fully deserved the three points, but the scoreline flattered them a bit. Iago Herrerin was definitely at fault for two of the goals, Benzema took the match ball with him and the Frenchman showed once again why he is such a key player for Real Madrid. Athletic Bilbao were unable to threaten and when they did, they were denied either by Vallejo or Navas.