Real Madrid Still Alive

MADRID, MONDAY – La Liga feels increasingly close to its conclusion as Real Madrid has yet to break through Athletic Bilbao's goal by the end of regular time. However, Federico Valverde's magical goal in the final minutes breathed new life into Real. Thanks to this important 1-0 victory over Bilbao, Real continues to trail Barcelona at the top of the standings.

Real is still facing ongoing issues in the attacking sector. After failing to overturn the goal deficit against Arsenal, the attack led by Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham was once again ineffective when facing Bilbao. In the first half, Real played very slowly and failed to convert several opportunities. This situation is bad news as Real desperately needs quick goals to revive their morale after suffering a heavy defeat to Arsenal.

Real fans were left anxiously waiting for a goal. Valverde finally answered that hope with a half-volley from inside the penalty box. The goal in second-half stoppage time was greeted with great enthusiasm by Real fans. Previously, they had been lulled into false hope when Vinicius scored but it was disallowed due to offside.

"I have no doubt that the fans support us. The stadium is fantastic as always. The fans, like us, also believe that we can achieve something this season," said Real Coach Carlo Ancelotti at the press conference after the match, Monday (21/4/2025) early morning WIB.

Ancelotti once thought that the support from fans for his team had diminished. The defeat against Arsenal indeed struck Real very hard psychologically. The absence of a Remontada or the usual resurgence they demonstrate in crucial matches raises its own questions. The failure to achieve a Remontada directly affects the confidence of both the players and the fans.

However, the atmosphere at the Bernabeu is still very vibrant. Almost all the seats are filled. Real fans are not only able to demand but also continue to support during critical moments. Throughout the match against Bilbao, they kept cheering, trying to motivate the players until the end.

Support from fans feels like a very strong moral boost. This is one of the factors that allowed Real to gain new life. The situation was beyond Ancelotti's expectations, who initially thought that the fans would boo him and the players due to the defeat against Arsenal.

Unwavering support from fans was well translated by Valverde. Real is fortunate to have a versatile player like Valverde. The Uruguayan national team player is originally positioned as a midfielder but was assigned the role of right-back in this match.

Bilbao played very deep with a low defensive line. The team, managed by coach Ernesto Valverde, attempted to close the gaps between lines that could be exploited by Real players. As a result, Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham were not free to maneuver.

It is during moments like this that Valverde plays a crucial role. One of Valverde's strengths is his accurate long-range shot. When there are not many opportunities to approach the Bilbao goal, Valverde's kick is the answer.

"I did not think much in the end. Sometimes I overthink to the point where I start to doubt myself. This time I did not think, I just shot. Today was a match where I took many shots on goal, most of which were successful. I felt very confident, and in the end, the ball went in," said Valverde.

Valverde specifically expressed his gratitude to the fans for their support. Like Ancelotti, he initially thought that the fans would boo his team due to their failure in the UEFA Champions League. However, that did not happen. The fans actually believe that Real still has a chance to win a trophy this season. The support from the fans serves as a moral boost for Real, who will face Getafe and Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey next week.

Thanks to the additional three points from Bilbao, Real continues to trail Barca at the top of the standings. The point difference, which was initially seven, has shrunk back to four points. Thanks to Real's late victory, the curtain on the championship race continues to be drawn until the end. (REUTERS)