Cristiano Ronaldo spared Real Madrid’s blushes when stealing in for an 87th minute equaliser against Athletic Bilbao in the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening. The Portuguese star got a little touch on Luka Modric’s long range shot to register his 46th goal of the season.
Real had fallen behind to a 14th minute strike from Inaki Williams and the home side looked to be heading for defeat until Ronaldo rescued a point with an exquisite back heel flick. The draw takes Los Blancos to within three points of second-placed Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.
Ronaldo was one of four changes to the side that beat Malaga at the weekend. Modric and Raphael Varane were two other players rested by Zinedine Zidane following their efforts in the Champions League tie at Juventus. However the decision to start with Gareth Bale on the bench cast further doubt about the Welshman’s future at the club.
The game began with Real in the ascendancy and Ronaldo shook the woodwork when powering a header against the crossbar as early as the tenth minute. Dani Carvajal sent in a cross from the right which the Portuguese striker met with a bullet header that left Bilbao’s Keppa Arrizabalaga beaten. Fortunately for the visitors, the crossbar came to their rescue.
The home side looked to have a stranglehold on the game but the stadium was left stunned when Inigo Cordoba fed Williams with an inch perfect pass which the 23-year-old chipped beyond the reach of Keylor Navas.
Although Real tried to respond quickly, they posed little threat from their superior possession for the duration of the first half. Ronaldo forced a corner from a swivelled shot soon after the opener and Arrizabalaga was forced to make another save to a low effort from Marco Asensio after he had picked his way through the Bilbao defence.
It was more of the same after the break with Real controlling possession but unable to create any clear cut opportunities. Ronaldo had a penalty appeal overruled moments before the visitors went close to doubling their advantage with the best chance of the match.
Cordoba was involved again, this time latching onto a cross by Oscar de Marcos but his close range shot was blocked only for Raul Garcia to smash the rebound against the bar.
The visitors continued to stifle Real and with 20 minutes to go Zidane made a double substitution, bringing on Bale and Isco with Benzema and Asensio making way. Bale was presented with half a chance minutes after coming on but could only turn his volley wide.
As the game progressed, Bilbao put 10 men behind the ball and tried to shut up shop for the last ten minutes. Bale wasted a rare opportunity to create something after getting onto the end of Marcello’s ball over the top, only to send his cross tamely into the arms of the keeper.
Finally, the ball broke to Modric with three minutes remaining and he powered a shot towards goal which Ronaldo guided past the goalkeeper with a deft touch of his heel.
