Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid — Mbappe's brace and strong response from Xabi's men under pressure

Arda Guler has been benched

Guruzeta is leading the line with Nico Williams starting on the left wing

Club Athletic substitutes: Padilla, Paredes, Gorosabel, Areso, Berchiche, Vesga, Sanchez, Gomez, Garcia, Bujan, Serrano, Izeta

Real Madrid substitutes: Lunin, Gonzalez, F Garcia, Asencio, Guler, Ceballos, Diaz, Endrick, Mastantuono, G Garcia, Rodrygo

Real Madrid’s over reliance on Mbappe is becoming obvious. They have scored 41 goals in all competitions so far and Mbappe has contributed 23 of them, which is more than half of their total goals. When he has an off day in front of goal, Real Madrid struggle to win matches. That needs to change and the others have to step up.

Real has to win this game to pile pressure on Barcelona, who hold a four point lead at the moment. The table looks tight now and any dropped points will only widen the gap. On top of that, going four matches without a win for Real Madrid is a tragedy by their standards.

Managers have embraced before the start. They are Basque brothers, both from the same region, and there is real respect between them as we get set for kick off.

Nico Williams was presented with the Goal of the Month award for November before kick off. He scored only one goal in the month, a sharp finish against Levante, and that strike was enough to earn him the honour.

The first foul of the match is committed by Tchouameni for Real Madrid near the half way line

Mbappe and Vini are playing much closer together, while Fede is drifting into the right wing. Carreras, the left back, is providing the width on the opposite side. Camavinga and Tchouameni are sitting in midfield and holding the structure. That is the early look of it.

Mbappes attempt inside the box is blocked and moments later Vini's shot is saved by Simon after Atleti lose possession in their own area. Two shots in quick succession and a sharp start from Real.

Trent's cross-field diagonal pass was glorious there. Mbappe's touch and the way he went inside Laporte was pure class, finished off with a brilliant strike. Is it the goal of the week already? It was poor defending from Club Athletic defence

7 mins : Club Athletic 0-1 Real Madrid

Mbappe and Vini are rotating constantly and Jude is playing as the ten behind them, although he has hardly got into the game so far. Long diagonals and early balls into the front two have been the main pattern. Club Athletic have not been able to string a few passes together yet.

The first attempt from Club Athletic comes after Jude loses possession in the Real's area. Nico drives with it down the right and swings in a cross. Guruzeta's movement is sharp but his attempt flies well wide.

Mbappe and Vini are combining well on the left side. They played a brilliant one two there. Mbappe’s return pass to Vini was brilliant, but Vini’s cut back went straight to a Club Athletic defender in the box because there was literally no one in the box for Real Madrid. It was a blind pass from Vini and the chance slipped away.

Twenty minutes down and it has been a Real Madrid dominant show so far. They have been sharp in every phase.

20 mins : Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Real Madrid

Real give the ball away in a dangerous area and it leads to a big chance for Guruzeta, whose shot inside the box is saved by Courtois. A real let off for Madrid. Fede was the clulprit in giving away the ball there

25 mins : Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Real Madrid

Great save from Courtois after a mix up in Real's defence. Nico’s clever flick finds Berenguer and it looks like a clear opening, but he cannot finish as the big man is there once more to save Real. The man just saves everything. WHAT A SAVE

30 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–1 Real Madrid

Simon rushes far off his line to close down Vinicius on the left, but Vini still manages to squeeze in a shot from such a tight angle. The ball skips off the surface, takes an awkward bounce and clips the post.

34 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–1 Real Madrid

Another big diagonal from Real Madrid, this time from Militao, finds Vinicius Junior on the left hand side. His touch is sharp but Simon comes out quickly and rescues Club Athletic with a strong intervention.

37 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–1 Real Madrid

A clear dive from Mbappe there. The referee gets it spot on. There is no contact from the defender as Mbappe tries to cut inside. He is expecting a touch but nothing comes. The question is why he was not shown a yellow for that.

39 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–1 Real Madrid

A lovely cross from Trent and an unselfish header from Mbappe sets up Camavinga to finish from close range. A brilliant team goal. Trent’s crossing and overall passing have been outstanding in this game so far.

43 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid go into the break fully in control. Mbappe’s early brilliance set the tone and the second goal, finished by Camavinga after a wonderful Trent cross and a selfless header from Mbappe, summed up the confidence in their play. Trent has been outstanding with his range of passing and Real have repeatedly found joy with long diagonals into the wide areas.

Bilbao have had a couple of moments but Courtois has been there every time to keep Real safe. Apart from those brief scares, the home side have struggled to put together any real phases of possession.

Real look sharper, more aggressive and more composed. If Bilbao want anything from this, they will need a huge shift after the restart.

Half time: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe is the first player to score and assist in three different La Liga games this season

Eduardo Camavinga won 7/7 duels in the first half vs. Athletic Club

Unai Gomez and Jesus Areso in for Galaretta and Lekue

The second half kicks off at San Mames as both teams return with plenty still to play for. Real look in full control, while Bilbao need a fast response to get back into this contest.

46 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 Real Madrid

Adama wins the ball off Tchouameni in Real’s half and Jauregizar lets fly from distance. Courtois parries it away for a corner, but the resulting set piece offers no real threat to Real.

49 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 Real Madrid

Trent is down injured and the Real bench looks worried. Asencio is on for the injured Englishman.

54 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 Real Madrid

After the whistle was blown, Mbappe megs Adama and Adama does not like it at all. He reacts by pushing Mbappe and it sparks a small flare up. Vini Junior rushes in and a few other players get involved before it calms down.

57 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 Real Madrid

The defender does not close down Mbappe and he takes on the shot from roughly 22 to 23 yards. Unai Simon should not be getting beaten from that range. His positioning is all over the place. Poor keeping, but a very good strike from Mbappe.

61 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid

Unai Simon’s place as Spain’s number one should be under real question now, especially with the rise of David Raya and Joan Garcia. Both keepers have been outstanding this season and the gap is closing fast.

It looks like Camavinga has picked up an injury from an earlier challenge and he cannot continue. Guler is coming on to replace him as Real deal with yet another setback.

69 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid

Vini is trying to provoke the fans here with that one two three gesture. Not a good idea at this stage of the game as the game is already won by Real Madrid. He doesn't need to do that

Yellow card for Rego. Carreras makes a driving run forward and Rego pulls him back cynically. No complaints about that one.

75 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid

A triple change for Real Madrid. Mbappe, Militao and Vini all make way. Rodrygo, Gonzalo Garcia and Brahim come on as Alonso freshens up his side for the closing minutes.

80 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid

Rudiger flies in with a ferocious sliding clearance just outside the box and comes up holding his hamstring. For a second it looks worrying, but he is fine to continue. Real Madrid really do not want another injury tonight.

88 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid

Three minutes of injury time have been added at San Mames.

90 mins: Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso came into this match under real pressure after three winless games in the league. But what pressure are we talking about now? This was one of Real’s best performances of the season in terms of intensity. They pressed with purpose, moved the ball with confidence and looked sharp in every phase. A statement display from a side that answered every question thrown at them tonight.