Real Madrid 1-0 Athletic Club - La Liga result as Federico Valverde scores a screamer to win it in stoppage time

Federico Valverde’s stunning stoppage-time strike clinched a 1-0 win over Athletic Club and kept Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes alive.

Barcelona moved seven points clear at the top of the standings thanks to Raphinha’s last-gasp penalty against Celta Vigo on Saturday, and Madrid responded with a late goal of their own at the Santiago Bernabeu to perhaps ease some of the pressure on coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Vinicius Junior had earlier had a goal disallowed by VAR for an offside from substitute Endrick in the build-up, with Madrid — wounded by their Champions League exit in midweek and without the suspended Kylian Mbappe — having come good after a sluggish first-half display.

Jude Bellingham, who also had a seemingly valid penalty appeal turned down, missed a slew of chances, with Unai Simon in fine form in the Athletic goal, though he could do nothing to prevent Valverde’s rocket finding the top-left corner in the 93rd minute.

Madrid’s victory means they stay within touching distance of Barca, who Los Blancos face in the Copa del Rey final next weekend.

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Here he is, speaking to La Liga TV: "I think we played a good game tonight. We held out almost until the end, but this is Real Madrid, this is the Bernabeu, and in the end they got the goal in the last seconds.

"The team didn’t have a problem physically, we were fine in that aspect. But they’re so good, they kept putting the ball into our area and creating chances. In the end, you just end up camped in your own penalty area and one of them will end up going past you."

Athletic stay fourth, five points ahead of Villarreal.

That's it, it's all over. What a second half that was from Real Madrid, and finally, they got over the line thanks to that stunning strike from Federico Valverde.

Jude Bellingham missed some big chances, Vinicius Junior saw a goal disallowed by VAR for Endrick straying offside, but Valverde came up with a moment of magic right at the end. A quite spectacular goal, worthy of winning any match.

Carlo Ancelotti, who badly needed that win, comes over to embrace the midfielder, and Madrid move back to within four points of Barcelona in an enthralling title race.

Next up, it's the Copa del Rey final between these two giants of Spanish football.

Real Madrid 1-0 Athletic Club.

Madrid just need to control possession now, and they will have claimed what could be a huge win to keep them in the title race.

What. A. Goal.

He's had a few sighters, and now Valverde has made the difference! The Uruguayan sets himself with a touch after latching onto a poor clearance and then hammers a volley into the top-left corner. What an incredible goal. What a player. And Madrid finally have their lead!

We'll have seven minutes of added time. As the board goes up, Valverde sees a long-range effort parried wide by Simon.

It's all Madrid, and Athletic are just clinging on.

Vazquez's header falls to Bellingham, who takes a touch with his chest and tries to then prod it home. But it was at an awkward height, and he can't direct it under the crossbar.

Madrid are absolutely seething and it would appear they have good reason to be. Bellingham was clattered into by Nunez in the area, yet the referee has dismissed the appeals for a penalty and the VAR has not deemed that decision worthy of a challenge.

We now have confirmation that it was offside, with Endrick's toes having just been ahead of the play. It's all a bit ludicrous, if you ask me, but such is modern football. What a key moment that could be in the title race!

Prados goes into the book for a rough tackle on Endrick.

They have been on top all of this half, but having that opening goal disallowed could be a huge blow to Madrid.

Vinicius, though, is on a mission, and looks in the mood to go and be the match-winner.

What a blow that is for the Madridistas. It may have been given for a foul from Endrick on his marker, or offside, it's not quite clear, but what is clear is that it is now back to Madrid 0-0 Athletic.

Madrid's fans are not happy at all with how long this is taking. Even Mbappe is getting involved up in the stands, as he points to his watch.

The referee has now been asked to go and check the screen, which would suggest it is not just an offside call they are checking here.

What a goal! What a moment of genius from Vinicius!

Valverde's cross is missed by Endrick and collected by Vinicius, who cuts back from the byline, engineers some space and then sidefoots home into the bottom-left corner.

However, this will be checked by the VAR, as Endrick may have been offside when he challenged for that Valverde cross. Was he active, though?

Modric and Rodrygo have gone off, and Guler and Brahim Diaz are on for Madrid, as Ancelotti goes for it in the closing stages. He doesn't really have a choice. As it stands, Madrid's title hopes are slipping away.

Three times he has gone close, now.

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League, as well as exclusive Premier League games across the 2024-25 season.

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports and entertainment in one destination.