The result snapped a three-game winless streak in La Liga and underlined Madrid's title credentials, with Kylian Mbappe and co. putting in one of their most complete performances this season.
From the first minute, Madrid looked hungry and dangerous. In the 7th minute, Mbappe opened the scoring after a surge from midfield, breaking through defenders and unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box that flew into the net.
The pressure stayed on. As halftime approached, a flowing Madrid move saw Trent Alexander‑Arnold deliver a precise cross from the right wing. Mbappe met it with a header back across goal, where Eduardo Camavinga nodded home to make it 2–0.
The second half saw Madrid manage the tempo, but Mbappe was far from finished. In the 59th minute he struck again, this time with a long-range curling shot that beat the goalkeeper and sealed the 3-0 win.
After the match, Alonso hailed the display as possibly the team's best of the season so far. He praised the players' rhythm, intensity and focus. "The team played a complete game today, it was probably the best match we've had, at a difficult place to go, at a big moment," he said.
For Mbappe, the performance reaffirmed his status as Madrid's driving force this season. He now leads the scoring charts in La Liga with 16 goals, and his overall form, goals, assists and influence on the pitch, underpins Madrid's renewed push in the title race.
Meanwhile, the win lifts Madrid to second place in the table, just one point behind leaders Barcelona, putting clear pressure on the front-runners as the season reaches its midpoint.
Hansi Flick has urged Barcelona to maintain their momentum as they travel to Sevilla to face Real Betis today aiming for a fifth straight La Liga win, and the German has used the build-up to highlight the growing influence of Eric Garcia.
Joan Laporta has reignited the tension between Barcelona and Real Madrid after declaring that Los Blancos "represent power", while insisting Barcelona stand for "freedom".
Real Madrid's hard-fought victory over Athletic Bilbao came with another unwelcome injury scare, but the Spanish champions remain hopeful that Eduardo Camavinga will still feature against Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Raphinha has firmly closed the door on any exit from FC Barcelona for the foreseeable future after putting pen to paper on a new deal that keeps him at the club until June 2028.
