Real Madrid won their last game before they face Manchester City and they did it comfortably without the need of the suspended Vinicius.
There are no league fixtures next weekend because of the Spanish Cup final and after this 2-0 victory Madrid can sit back and enjoy the view from the top of the table, eight points clear of second place Barcelona with eight games left to play.
They were up against Athletic Bilbao who will busy in six days playing that final against Mallorca. For Madrid this was a game won by the ‘other’ Brazilian – the brilliant Rodrygo, forever in Vinicius’ shadow scored twice and Athletic could offer nothing in response.
It was also Jude Bellingham’s return after his two match suspension. He drove the team on from midfield and was the creator of the second goal. And there was a third protagonist. Eder Militao has been out for seven months with a cruciate tear but he returned as a second half substitute looking in the right shape to play his part against City.
Once the second goal went in. Real Madrid supporters turned their attention to that game and held a banner up behind the South Goal urging everyone in the stadium to wear the famous white shirt for quarterfinal first leg on April 9.
Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao to strengthen to move eight points clear at the top of La Liga
![Rodrygo opened the scoring with a thundering strike after a sublime solo run to the edge of the box](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/31/20/83090179-13257729-image-a-17_1711912925163.jpg)
Rodrygo opened the scoring with a thundering strike after a sublime solo run to the edge of the box
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For this victory Madrid were not in white. They were debuting their fourth kit and faced Athletic in purple – it was confusing because Athletic were in all white.
There was nothing confusing about the first goal however. It was pure brilliance from Rodrygo eight minutes in.
With Vinicius missing suspended his Brazilian team-mate was able to play on the left of Real Madrid’s attack where he is most comfortable.
From a long diagonal pass from Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo cut in from the left flank and beat Julen Agirrezabala with a well struck shot. It was a reminder of how good he can be playing his favourite position. It’s a shame for him that the same spot is also where, not only Vinicius, but also the in-coming Kylian Mbappe want to play.
Madrid held on to the lead into the break and might have doubled it just after the restart when the other benefactor of Vinicius’ absence, Brahim, hit the post.
Athletic went close when Inaki Williams caught a volley perfectly but Andriy Lunin saved well.
And with Ernesto Valverde’s team leaving space at the back, and Bellingham full of running a second Madrid goal always looked more likely than an Athletic equalizer.
![The Brazilian finished off a well-worked counter attack to double his tally after half-time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/31/21/83092219-13257729-image-a-25_1711918249407.jpg)
The Brazilian finished off a well-worked counter attack to double his tally after half-time
![Carlo Ancelotti's side will next face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/31/21/83092247-13257729-image-a-26_1711918338297.jpg)
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will next face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals
Bellingham was pushed over in the area by Dani Vivian but referee Javier Alberola Rojas waved away his appeals.
It didn’t matter because on 73 minutes the second goal came with Bellingham launching the counter attack and sending Rodrygo away, again down the left. He ducked past Vivian and fired past Agirrezabala.
All that was left was for Militao to trot back on to the pitch. The problem was that the ball was in play for so long it looked as though he might not make it. Finally Lunin deliberately kicked it out of play so that Militao could replace Dani Carvajal seven months and 19 days after his injury. It was the perfect end to a perfect night for Madrid.