Real Madrid defeated Athletic Club 4-2 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on May 23, 2026, with Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham leading a dominant display that showcased the home side's attacking prowess in La Liga.
Real Madrid entered the match in second place with 83 points from 37 games, seeking to maintain momentum in their title push. Athletic Club arrived in 12th position with just 45 points, struggling after a recent run of poor results. The visitors needed a positive result to improve their standing in the table.
Madrid struck first through Gonzalo García in the 12th minute. García found the back of the net to give the hosts an early advantage at the Bernabéu. The goal set the tone for a dominant opening period from the home side.
Bellingham doubled Madrid's lead in the 41st minute with a clinical finish. The midfielder's goal came after Madrid controlled possession and created multiple chances. However, Athletic Club responded immediately before halftime when Guruzeta scored in the 45th minute to make it 2-1.
The visitors showed character in the closing moments of the first half. Guruzeta's goal gave them hope heading into the break. Madrid held a slim one-goal advantage despite their superior control.
The second half saw Madrid reassert their dominance. Mbappé restored the two-goal cushion in the 51st minute with a composed finish. The French striker's goal shifted momentum firmly back toward the hosts.
Brahim Díaz added a fourth goal in the 88th minute to seal the victory. Díaz's finish came after Athletic Club had exhausted their defensive resources. The goal effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair.
Athletic Club grabbed a late consolation through Urko Izeta in the 90th minute. Izeta's goal came too late to threaten Madrid's commanding lead. The final whistle confirmed Madrid's comprehensive victory.
Madrid dominated the statistics throughout the 90 minutes. The hosts recorded 13 total shots with 8 on target, compared to Athletic Club's 8 total shots and just 2 on target. Madrid's expected goals stood at 1.86 versus Athletic Club's 0.86.
Possession told a similar story of Madrid's control. Madrid maintained 74 percent possession and completed 672 of 742 passes at 91 percent accuracy. Athletic Club managed just 26 percent possession with 174 accurate passes from 251 attempts.
Mbappé earned a rating of 8.0 for his all-around performance. The striker completed five shots with two on target and showed his class throughout. Bellingham also impressed with a 7.6 rating after his goalscoring contribution.
The victory keeps Real Madrid in contention at the top of La Liga. Madrid's form remains strong with recent results of W-W-L-W-D. Athletic Club faces a difficult road ahead in their battle to climb the table.
