Real Madrid 2-0 Athletic Club: Rodrygo's brace extends the lead to 8 points

Real Madrid won their last game before they face Manchester City and they did it comfortably without the need of the suspended Vinicius.

There are no league fixtures next weekend because of the Spanish Cup final and after this 2-0 victory Madrid can sit back and enjoy the view from the top of the table, eight points clear of second place Barcelona with eight games left to play.

They were up against Athletic Bilbao who will busy in six days playing that final against Mallorca. For Madrid this was a game won by the ‘other’ Brazilian – the brilliant Rodrygo, forever in Vinicius’ shadow scored twice and Athletic could offer nothing in response.

It was also Jude Bellingham’s return after his two match suspension. He drove the team on from midfield and was the creator of the second goal. And there was a third protagonist. Eder Militao has been out for seven months with a cruciate tear but he returned as a second half substitute looking in the right shape to play his part against City.

Once the second goal went in. Real Madrid supporters turned their attention to that game and held a banner up behind the South Goal urging everyone in the stadium to wear the famous white shirt for quarterfinal first leg on April 9.

For this victory Madrid were not in white. They were debuting their fourth kit and faced Athletic in purple – it was confusing because Athletic were in all white.

There was nothing confusing about the first goal however. It was pure brilliance from Rodrygo eight minutes in.

With Vinicius missing suspended his Brazilian team-mate was able to play on the left of Real Madrid’s attack where he is most comfortable.

From a long diagonal pass from Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo cut in from the left flank and beat Julen Agirrezabala with a