Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao, LIVE: Zinedine Zidane's men aim to close gap on second-placed Atletico Madrid to four points

  • Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu in La Liga on Sunday afternoon 

Real Madrid will look to close the gap on rivals Atletico Madrid when they host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday afternoon.

Zinedine Zidane had led his side to three victories in four matches before Monday's disappointing 1-1 draw against Leganes. 

A victory at the Bernabeu will close the gap on second-placed Atletico to four points with five games remaining. 


Sportmail's SPENCER MORGAN is on hand to guide you through all the live action.

If you are using the app, please click here to view today’s live blog  

  • Spencer Morgan

    Host commentator

17:18
PETE JENSON'S MATCH REPORT

A Karim Benzema hat-trick earned Real Madrid a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday at the Bernabeu. 

20 fouls were committed during a fractious first half, but Benzema found the breakthrough two minutes after the break with a bullet header. 

The Frenchman arrived at the back post to head in his second goal with 14 minutes remaining and completed his hat-trick  in stoppage time, lobbing Bilbao goalkeeper Iago Herrerin from 20 yards.

CLICK HERE to read the full report

17:08
FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
17:08
90 mins

There will be two minutes of added time.

17:06
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Atheltic Bilbao (Benzema)

90 mins: Awful mistake from Herrerin and it's a hat-trick for Benzema!

The goalkeeper does well to rush out and stop Bale from latching on to a through ball but proceeds to gift the ball to Benzema, who curls into an empty net.

17:04
89 mins

Bale passes up a good chance to make it three as he chips the ball over the keeper and over the bar after going through on goal.

17:02
87 mins

Best chance of the game for Athletic as Williams gets a clear header at the back post. Fortunately for the visitors Navas is on hand to make the stop.

17:01
85 mins

Diaz almost makes his mark straight away as he forces a good save from Herrerin with a shot across goal.

16:59
84 mins

Diaz comes on for Asensio.

16:56
82 mins

Navas picks up Madrid's first booking for time wasting.

16:50
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Bilbao (Benzema)

Herrerin misjudges Modric's corner, leaving Benzema to head into an empty net at the far post. 

Hard to see any way back for the visitors now.

16:50
75 mins

Lopez and Aduriz come on for Garcia and Cordoba.

16:43
70 mins

Kroos and Vasquez are replaced by Isco and Gareth Bale.

16:42
68 mins

Kroos sees yellow for preventing an Athletic counter-attack through the middle.

16:38
62 mins

Bilbao coming back into it now. The visitors definitely believe they can get something from this game.

16:33
59 mins

Madrid trying to slow the pace down again now. They hold on to the ball before eventually working it out wide to Vasquez, whose low cross is intercepted by San Jose.

16:29
55 mins

Totally different game from the first half now. Both side's attacking with real intent. 

16:27
53 mins

Inigo Martinez picks up his side's fourth yellow card.

16:26
49 mins

Almost a second for Madrid!

Again its Asensio with the cross but Marcelo's effort flies over the bar.

16:22
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (Benzema)

47 mins: Perfect start to the half for Madrid!

Varane's clearance falls to Asensio who races forward before crossing to Benzema who powers his header past Herrerin.

Bilbao's first half hard work undone.

16:19
Second half

Bilbao get us back underway.

16:04
HALF-TIME
16:01
45 mins

Garcia enters the book for dissent after protesting the referee's decision to award a corner.

16:00
42 mins

Navas easily catches Garcia's header from a corner. That's the match's first shot on target.

15:57
39 mins

Good defending from Carvajal who does just enough to prevent Lekue from getting his head to Garcia's cross. Still not one clear chance for either side.

15:55
37 mins

This game is starting to get a little silly now. Marcelo goes down holding the back of his thigh after he slips while trying to beat Lekue. Athletic get the free-kick. Marcelo miraculously recover.

15:51
33 mins

Garcia barges Casemiro in the back while challenging for a header and Madrid get another free-kick. Starting to lose count of the number of fouls in this half. 

15:48
31 mins

Vasquez almost finds Benzema in the box with a cross but the striker is beaten to the ball by Alvarez. Frustrating half so far for him.

15:45
29 mins

Williams aims a cross towards Cordoba rushing in at the far post but Carvajal gets in front first and clears.

15:44
27 mins

Carvajal's blocked by Berchiche for Madrid's first corner of the game. Nothing comes of it. Nothing in the way of clear chances so far.

15:41
23 mins

Cordoba goes down holding his face after a tussle with Vasquez. You sense tempers could be about to flare over.

15:37
19 mins

Benzema almost manages to free himself through the centre but has the ball stolen from him at the last moment. The visitors proceed to lose the ball but Modric's ball to Asensio is intercepted by Lekue.

Madrid struggling to find any real space. 

15:36
17 mins

Kroos makes his way through the centre before Berchiche brings him down. Atheltic look happy to make things ugly. 

15:31
15 mins

Berchiche cacthes Vasquez with a flailing arm and the left-back is booked.

15:28
11 mins

Madrid are happy to pass the ball around in their own half. Eventually space opens up for Vasquez's on the right who puts in a cross that is headed away by Lekue.

15:25
7 mins

More pace about the game now. An Athletic attack falls apart and Madrid counter through Benzema and Asensio but the French striker's pass is blocked by Lekue at the vital moment.

15:22
5 mins

Athletic are trying to get their passing game going. Williams holds up a pass from Cordoba well but is bundled over by Casemiro as Cordoba seeks the return.

Madrid struggling to find any sort of rhythm so far.

15:19
3 mins

Early booking for Inigo Cordoba who slides into the back of Carvajal.

15:15
KICK-OFF

Madrid get us underway.

15:00
15 minutes to kick-off
14:51
Athletic Bilbao team news
14:50
Real Madrid team news
14:45
Good afternoon

And welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao.

Both teams have been announced with kick-off at 3.15pm.