Madrid have not lost any of their last 24 LaLiga games
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Rodrygo scored a brace as Real Madrid bagged a comfortable 2-0 home win against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The win helped Madrid cement their position at the top of the LaLiga table with 75 points after 30 games. They have an eight-point lead over second-placed FC Barcelona.
Madrid have not lost any of their last 24 LaLiga games (W18 D6), their best unbeaten run in a single league season since 1996/97 under Fabio Capello (G24 W16 D8).
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham became the first LaLiga player to reach double figures for both goals (20) and assists (10) this season in all competitions.
The result damaged fourth-placed Bilbao’s chances of clinching a place in next season’s Champions League as they are only one point ahead of Atletico Madrid, who will take the field at Villarreal on Monday.
Rodrygo helped Madrid take the lead after eight minutes, curling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box.
In the 73rd minute, Rodrygo scored again after getting space on the left wing, with the help of Bellingham, on a counter-attack.
Bellingham made a comeback from a two-match suspension to replace Vinicius Jr, who was suspended for this match after picking up five yellow cards.
In stoppage time, Eder Militao made his first appearance for Madrid after being out of action since August due to an ACL injury. He was given a warm welcome by the home crowd.
“We are talking about one of the best defenders in the world and he is important for us,” Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said.
“He needs time to adapt and get back to playing. We’ll need him in this final stretch of the season.”
Real’s next match is in the Champions League quarter-final on April 9 against Manchester City.
“We know them very well, but we’re going to focus on our game. We need to bring more intensity than we did today, but we still have time,” Ancelotti added.
