Rodrygo excelled in place of Vinícius Júnior as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, maintaining an eight-point lead over Barcelona in La Liga.
Scoring both goals, Rodrygo ensured Madrid’s comfortable position at the top following Barcelona’s 1-0 win against Las Palmas on Saturday.
Vinícius was unavailable due to suspension for accumulating yellow cards, while Jude Bellingham returned to the squad after a two-game absence due to a red-card suspension. Bellingham’s contribution was significant as he assisted Rodrygo’s second goal in Madrid’s third consecutive league triumph.
Rodrygo’s first goal, a stunning strike from just outside the box, set the tone eight minutes into the match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Despite scoring for Brazil against Spain in a recent friendly at the Bernabeu, he had not found the net for Madrid in seven consecutive games.
Commenting on Rodrygo’s performance, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his impactful plays, while Rodrygo himself expressed confidence despite rumors of Kylian Mbappé potentially joining the team.
Facing Madrid, Athletic had their sights set on the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Mallorca. However, defender Yeray Álvarez’s injury in the 25th minute could jeopardize his availability for the final. Athletic’s defeat means they might drop to fifth place if Atlético Madrid wins against Villarreal on Monday.
Additionally, Madrid welcomed back central defender Éder Militão after an eight-month absence due to a knee injury. His return was met with cheers from the Bernabeu crowd. Although Madrid dominated, Brahim Díaz’s shot hit the post, narrowly missing a chance to extend their lead.
The friendly match between Brazil and Spain, dubbed “One Skin,” held at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, was organized following racial abuse directed at Vinícius during a league match almost a year ago.
The weekend’s league games followed an incident in the match between Getafe and Sevilla, where Sevilla player Marcos Acuña and coach Quique Sánchez Flores were subjected to racist insults. In Sunday’s match, Madrid wore their purple fourth kit instead of their usual white jersey.
