Athletic Club Stuns Real Madrid, Boosting Barcelona’s Title Hopes
A stunning late goal from Gorka Guruzeta propelled Athletic Club to a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at San Mamés on Wednesday night, handing garlands of favor to Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Early Lead and Missed Penalty
Álex Berenguer had given Athletic the lead shortly after halftime, but Real Madrid were handed a golden opportunity to level the score when they were awarded a penalty. Kylian Mbappe stepped up, but just as he had against Liverpool in the Champions League, the Frenchman couldn’t find the back of the net.
Bellingham Levels, Guruzeta Wins It
Real Madrid did manage to draw level through Jude Bellingham, but their joy was short-lived. Guruzeta, with remarkable composure, stole possession high up the pitch and fired a confident finish past the goalkeeper in the dying moments to seal a remarkable win for Athletic.
The result leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s side trailing Barcelona by four points, though Real Madrid retain a game in hand.
Flick Savors Barcelona’s Resurgence
Hansi Flick, meanwhile, expressed his relief after his team’s win over Real Mallorca. “It had been a ‘sh*tty November,’” the Barcelona manager admitted, “but December has certainly started well for the Catalans.”
How will Gorka Guruzeta’s performance impact Athletic Club Bilbao’s chances for the La Liga title?
“Gorka Guruzeta’s late winner against Real Madrid has thrown the La Liga title race wide open. Does this signal a shift in power, or can Real Madrid recover to defend their crown?” [[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9weBccdx9Y)]
