Villarreal close in on Champions League spot with win over Athletic Bilbao

April 13, 2026 9:53 AM

Villarreal close in on Champions League spot with win over Athletic Bilbao

Villarreal CF strengthened their grip on third place in La Liga with a 2-1 away win over Athletic Bilbao, moving four points clear of Atlético Madrid and 15 ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis as they closed in on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. First-half goals from Sergi Cardona and Alfon González gave Villarreal a 2-0 lead and left Athletic Bilbao on the back foot. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 26th minute through a swift counterattack. A through ball found ...

Mbappe masterclass inspires Real Madrid’s thumping win over Athletic Bilbao

December 4, 2025 9:47 AM

Mbappe masterclass inspires Real Madrid’s thumping win over Athletic Bilbao

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a stunning goal against Athletic Bilbao, set up Eduardo Camavinga for the second, and sealed Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory with a fierce strike from the edge of the box. The win keeps Real Madrid one point behind FC Barcelona, who defeated Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Xabi Alonso’s side often encounters difficult games at San Mames, and after three consecutive away draws in La Liga, this fixture could have been tricky. However, Mbappe produced an except...