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La Liga | Gameweek 18
Dec 22, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Athletic Bilbao logo

0-0

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Real Madrid lose ground on Barcelona with Athletic Bilbao draw

Real Madrid lose ground on Barcelona with Athletic Bilbao draw
© Reuters
After El Clasico finished 0-0 in midweek, Barcelona had responded with a 4-1 win over Alaves.

Real Madrid lost ground to rivals Barcelona at the top of LaLiga after being held to a goalless draw by Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu.

After El Clasico finished 0-0 in midweek, Barcelona had signed off from 2019 with a 4-1 win over Alaves on Saturday to keep the pressure on in the title battle.

Despite hitting the woodwork three times, Los Blancos were not able to find a breakthrough against a resolute Bilbao side – and head into the Christmas break once again two points behind their rivals.

It is the first time since 2006 that Madrid have recorded successive 0-0 draws in the league.

Zinedine Zidane made four changes from Wednesday's Nou Camp stalemate, with Luka Modric, Eder Militao, Vinicius and Rodrygo coming in as Gareth Bale dropped back to the bench.

Brazilian forward Vinicius saw an early chance blocked by goalkeeper Unai Simon, before the home side went close to breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute.

Toni Kroos darted into the penalty area and his close-range effort cannon off the keeper before flying up onto the crossbar.

Bilbao – who had not won a LaLiga game at the Bernabeu for almost 15 years – threatened when Inaki Williams held off Militao to send a low shot towards the bottom corner, which Thibaut Courtois palmed past the post.

Los Blancos pressed again on the half hour as first Karim Benzema's header was saved before the France forward saw his angled shot cleared off the line.

After Benzema, who has 12 LaLiga goals this season, curled a shot over, the visitors had the ball in the net just before half-time.

Mikel Vesga picked out Kenan Kodro, who drilled the ball past Courtois into the top corner – only for the goal to be ruled out by what looked a marginal offside decision.

Madrid upped the tempo following the restart, but continued to face a resolute Bilbao rearguard.

Benzema hit a first-time effort from Dani Carvajal's pass, but it was straight at Simon.

The home side struck the woodwork again as the hour mark approached.

Kroos floated a corner into the six-yard box, where substitute Nacho Fernandez sent a flying header crashing onto the bar.

Bale replaced Rodrygo, with Benzema then forcing Simon into another smart save as the home side stretched Bilbao again.

With 20 minutes left, Bale cut in front the right and curled a left-foot shot wide of the far post.

Madrid continued to push Bilbao back during the closing stages, and almost fashioned a late winner.

With three minutes left, substitute Luka Jovic saw his downward header from Carvajal's cross clip the inside of the post and bounce out as Bilbao held on.

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Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane pictured on November 30, 2019
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Group A

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Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

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Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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