Rodrygo shows star quality as Real Madrid ease past Athletic Club

The Brazilian scored both goals to earn his side three precious points

A double from Rodrygo helped Real Madrid restore their eight-point lead at the top of LaLiga EA Sports after a routine 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

With title rivals Barcelona temporarily closing the gap to five points and Girona sealing a last-gasp win over Real Betis earlier in the day, it was down to Los Blancos to demonstrate their capability as potential champions when the title race reaches its climax in May.

And it didn't take Carlo Ancelotti's side long to prove their point, with just seven minutes on the clock when Rodrygo opened the scoring with a sublime solo goal.

The 23-year-old might lose his place in the three-man attack to Kylian Mbappe next season if the PSG star, as expected, signs on a free transfer. But the Brazilian showed he still has plenty to offer with an outstanding strike, dribbling through the middle and curling past goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala from 25 yards out.

That moment of quality was the only clear-cut chance to separate the two sides going into the interval in an otherwise cagey first half, with a long-range strike from Federico Valverde and effort from Aurelien Tchouameni the only other opportunities.

After the break, Athletic offered some more attacking intent without truly troubling Andriy Lunin in the Real Madrid goal and Ernesto Valverde's decision to take off top goalscorer Gorka Guruzeta said everything about his quiet night up front.

But with Ancelotti's men in control, they soon put the game to bed — and it was that man Rodrygo again, who shimmied past substitute Dani Vivian and coolly slotted past Agirrezabala to make it 15 goals for the season in all competitions.

That proved