Real Madrid 2 - 1 Athletic Bilbao: Substitute Morata leaves it late to send Real top

Posted Monday, October 24, 2016 by PA

Substitute Alvaro Morata was the hero for Real Madrid as they claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.

A straightforward night seemed on the cards when Karim Benzema gave them a seventh-minute lead, but a combination of Athletic's doggedness and Real's ragged defending allowed Sabin Merino to score a 27th-minute equaliser.

Real could not convert a series of second-half chances until Gareth Bale crossed from the left to Morata in the 83rd minute, and the former Juventus man was able to tap in after Gorka Iraizoz blocked his first effort.

The result took Real to the top of LaLiga after nine rounds of games, but it could have been different if Inaki Williams had taken one, or both, of the second-half opportunities which came his way.

Athletic started the game positively, but were hit by the sort of sucker-punch goal that has become Real's signature under coach Zinedine Zidane.

Marcelo switched play from left to right to release Isco. Left-back Enric Saborit appeared to have taken the ball off the former Malaga man, but he slipped at the crucial moment, allowing Isco to cut the ball back for Benzema to sweep home in the seventh minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo fired a shot from long range wide and Bale headed one over the top, but Athletic remained right in the contest as Sabin headed full-back Lekue's cross over in the 17th minute.

Sabin really could not miss 10 minutes later though. Three Real defenders tried and failed to clear as Athletic built an attack down the right flank and Javier Eraso found Sabin in space to fire past Keylor Navas.

Athletic defender Aymeric Laporte got a vital touch to divert a Marcelo pass intended for Ronaldo away from the Portuguese front man in the 38th minute.

Ronaldo wasted a great chance just before half-time. He advanced into the box but seemed unsure of whether to pass or shoot, and ultimately drilled a shot straight at Iraizoz as he tried to beat the Athletic goalkeeper at his near post.

Bale appealed in vain for a penalty after he went shoulder to shoulder with Lekue as the second half began in energetic fashion.

Williams should have put Athletic in front in the 52nd minute, as Real's defence again looked shaky. They failed to clear as the ball came from right to left and Williams burst clear but leaned back and side-footed a shot over Navas' bar.

The Bernabeu jeered as Isco - arguably Real's main creative force on the night - was taken off for Lucas Vazquez in the 65th minute and Ronaldo volleyed over Bale's cross from the left.

The Portuguese fired wide in the 70th minute after neat approach work from Toni Kroos and Benzema and Mateo Kovacic headed just off target seconds later as the Real pressure grew, albeit without any golden opportunities.

Benzema was replaced by Morata in the 74th minute as Real went in search of a winner.

Another chance slipped away as Bale had the chance to shoot or pick out Ronaldo as he latched on to Kroos' lofted pass but achieved neither, and Mikel San Jose almost scored a bizarre own goal when Markel Susaeta blasted a clearance straight at him, but the ball flew over.

That moment seemed to signify that it would not be Real's day, but Morata, on his 24th birthday, then seized his moment to put Real ahead with seven minutes to go.

They almost gifted Athletic an equaliser, though, when Raphael Varane's back pass was woefully underhit and Navas had to stand up well and block Williams' shot.

Ronaldo had the chance to add a third on the break deep into stoppage time, but again Iraizoz denied him.