Bellingham's Second Goal Sends Real Madrid to Victory Over Athletic Bilbao

### Bellingham's Second Goal Sends Real Madrid to Victory Over Athletic Bilbao

In a thrilling encounter between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Saturday, Bellingham's second goal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for the Spanish giants. The match was marked by high intensity from both teams, with Real Madrid dominating possession but facing some resistance from Athletic Bilbao.

The opening goal came in the 27th minute when Luka Modrić found Sergio Ramos in the penalty area, who expertly tapped it into the back of the net. This early lead put Real Madrid in control and set the tone for the rest of the game.

Athletic Bilbao, however, refused to go down without a fight. In the 68th minute, Nacho Mendes scored a stunning equalizer off a corner kick. His shot sailed over the wall and into the bottom right corner, leaving the visitors stunned.

The tension continued until the final whistle, with both teams vying for the win. Real Madrid's defense held firm, while Athletic Bilbao tried their best to come back. But with Bellingham's second goal coming just before the end of regulation time, the hosts were able to secure their victory.

Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance: "We had a great start, and we defended well throughout. We knew that if we could hold our ground, we would have a chance. Bellingham's goal gave us the edge, and we finished the job."

Athletic Bilbao manager, Abelardo Fernández, admitted defeat but praised his players' resilience: "We played very hard and showed spirit. Unfortunately, we couldn't convert all our chances. It was a tough game, but we'll learn from this and improve next time."

This victory extends Real Madrid's unbeaten streak to 15 matches, maintaining their dominance in La Liga. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao will need to find ways to improve against such quality opposition moving forward.

The match also highlighted the importance of individual performances, particularly those from key players like Luka Modrić and Nacho Mendes. Their contributions were crucial in securing the win for Real Madrid.

As Real Madrid continue their title bid, they look forward to facing more challenging opponents in the upcoming weeks. With this result, they remain one step closer to achieving their ultimate goal of winning the league title for the first time since 2019.