Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao means a lot

Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday, securing their 23rd win in the 2023-24 La Liga season.

Rodrygo scored both goals for Real, one in the eighth minute and the other in the 73rd minute, breaking his 50-day scoring drought. "It's a special day. Scoring wearing this shirt is always important. I'm happy with the win," the Brazilian winger said after the game. "[The first goal] is a move I like to do a lot. I like coming inside and shooting. I want to score a lot more goals like that. Now in this final stage of the season in LaLiga we have to get the points, to be close to winning the trophy."

Real's manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Rodrygo for his performance as well. "You could say he feels better on the left, but he's good everywhere," Ancelotti said. "Let's not forget he scored two goals playing on the right in a Champions League semifinal. We were convinced Rodrygo would do something in this game. Maybe he likes this position [on the left] more than the others. He was the most important player."

Rodrygo's second goal was assisted by Jude Bellingham, which made the latter the first La Liga player this season to get at least 20 goals and 10 assists in all competitions. He also leads the Spanish top league in scoring with 16 goals.

"He wasn't as fresh as he usually is," Ancelotti said of Bellingham who just finished a two-game suspension. "He played two intense games with England and he paid for that a bit. He's learnt what he has to do [with the refs]: keep quiet."

Real had their key defender Eder Militao back in Sunday's game after 232 days resulted by a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. He replaced Daniel Carvajal in the 92nd minute.

Real continue to lead the La Liga with 75 points, eight ahead of Barcelona in the second place, after Sunday's win, with eight more games to go.