Summary

  • Aritz Aduriz power-header earns Athletic win

  • Aduriz also heads against post

  • Bale almost levels with wonder-strike

  • Barca can go top with win on Sunday

  1. See you tomorrowpublished at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    So that's all from us for this evening.

    Join us again tomorrow for more, starting at 10:30 GMT for Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano.

    Until then, we'll be seeing you.

  2. Your European round-uppublished at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Here's your digest of the big European football stories of the day:

    Bayern Munich beat Hannover 3-1 to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 11 points, as Wolfsburg were beaten at Augsburg.

    Paris Saint-Germain have gone top of Ligue 1, at least until Lyon play away to Montpellier on Sunday evening.

    And Real Madrid were beaten at Athletic Bilbao, meaning Barcelona will go top of La Liga if they beat Rayo Vallecano at home tomorrow morning.

  3. Are Real Madrid in crisis?published at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Well it's far too early for any of that sort of talk really - let's not forget they still top the league, although you'd expect that top spot to have gone to Barcelona by lunch-time tomorrow.

    Real ended 2014 on a high - Club World Cup champions, a record-breaking winning run - but since then they have fallen flat.

    A 4-0 loss to city rivals Atletico Madrid in February - their worst derby defeat since 1947 - losing to Atletico again in the Copa del Rey, and now a home draw and an away defeat in their last two games has let Barca back in, as the title race hots up.

    Oh, and there's El Clasico to come on 22 March, at Camp Nou.

  4. Postpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Aritz AdurizImage source, Getty Images

    Aritz Aduriz's first-half header ended up separating the two teams, but it was a great team performance from Athletic.

    It's not as if Real didn't know what to expect from Aduriz though. He's now scored 38 headers in La Liga - only Fernando Llorente (now at Juventus) has scored more. He got 39 in his days with Bilbao.

  5. Postpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Now then, this result is going to be very warmly welcomed down in Barcelona.

    Luis Enrique's side can go top of La Liga if they beat Rayo Vallecano tomorrow morning (11:00 GMT).

  6. FULL-TIMEpublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    A Daniel Carvajal cross is blocked by the first man, and the referee blows for full-time.

    He might have to get his watch out again to explain that one.

  7. Postpublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    After a very leisurely change, Lucas Silva fires wildly over for Real. Iker Casillas is grinding his teeth as he watches on.

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 18:48 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Three minutes added on.

    And just as the announcement is made, Athletic make another substitution. Mikel Rico is off, and Gaizka Toquero is on. Midfielder for forward, but it's all about running the clock down from here.

  9. Postpublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    The red and white scarves are out and the crowd are jumping. Athletic will just try to see this one out from here, and there's no better motivation than the support they are getting. One minute of normal time to play.

  10. YELLOW CARDpublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Marcelo is booked as Mikel Rico goes down in apparent agony. The Real wing-back's arms were flailing erratically, and it looks like he caught Rico in the face.

  11. Postpublished at 18:42 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Five minutes to go now for Real. This really would be a shock result, but in truth Athletic have done more than enough to deserve it.

    As Bale just showed though, it only takes one moment to change a game completely. Or a season.

  12. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Gareth Bale has almost just scored one of the most sensational goals of the season. With Gorka Iraizoz way off his line, Bale launches an incredible, outrageous effort, from only just inside the Athletic half.

    It cannons back off the post. What a goal that would have been! There's your £85m right there.

  13. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Karim Benzema is off, Javier Hernandez on, as Real try to lift themselves for the final 10 minutes.

  14. Postpublished at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    That chance for Aduriz seems to have given the Athletic players another boost of energy and they are pouring forward, spurred on by the buoyant home crowd. Every attacking wave is being cheered on, every player urged into each 50-50 challenge.

    Real are hanging on, and scramble a low cross clear, with Aduriz waiting in the box.

  15. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    It's Aritz Aduriz and his head again! Aduriz rose so well to meet a cross from the right-wing and nod the ball onto the post - Iker Casillas was beaten. A let-off for Real.

  16. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Inaki Williams, very, very slowly, is coming off for Guillermo Fernandez. Just under 15 minutes to go for Real to find something.

    Otherwise Barcelona could be leading the table tomorrow.

  17. PENALTY APPEALpublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy. He's played through on goal and goes down after trying to flick the ball past Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz, who palms it away.

    Ronaldo seemed to go down under the challenge of a defender coming in from behind. It looks like he was caught on the ankle, and he maybe had a decent shout there to be honest. He certainly had a minor strop on.

  18. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Is this the man to land that sucker punch? Well it's certainly an attacking change from Carlo Ancelotti, as forward Jese comes on for Asier Illarramendi.

  19. Postpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Athletic are taking a few gambles in attack and that's opening up spaces for Real. Toni Kroos delivers an inch-perfect corner for Raphael Varane, but the French centre-back nods wide. Poor finish.

  20. Postpublished at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March 2015

    Gareth Bale shows really nice technique to float a cross into the Athletic box but he really should have tried to put more whip on that one. Gorka Iraizoz gathers, and there's a definite sense the home side have weathered the storm.

    Real will need to power up another sucker punch.