Valverde scores late in Real Madrid’s 1-0 win

MADRID (AP):

Still upset at their team’s midweek exit from the Champions League, Real Madrid fans jeered suspended Kylian Mbappé and then cheered Federico Valverde after he scored late in a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league yesterday.

The narrow victory for second-placed Madrid kept some pressure on leaders Barcelona.

Mbappé, serving a red-card suspension, was jeered by many fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium four days after he had already been booed in Madrid’s 2-1 second-leg loss to Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Spanish powerhouse were eliminated 5-1 on aggregate from a competition they have won a record 15 times.

“We did well today,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We wanted to win again and rebound from the elimination. The team came through and Fede was key. This victory gives us a boost.”

Valverde scored with a well-placed shot into the top corner from the right edge of the penalty area three minutes into second-half stoppage time.

The Bernabeu was mostly behind the team yesterday but some fans jeered when Mbappé was shown in the stadium on the large video screens.

Vinícius Júnior, who also struggled on Wednesday but impressed yesterday, had a goal disallowed around the 80th because of an offside by Endrick in the buildup. Vinícius reached 200 wins with Madrid.

Jude Bellingham, playing in a false-nine position in attack, also performed well for Madrid, who face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday in Seville.

The victory moved Madrid back within four points of Barcelona, who rallied to defeat Celta Vigo 4-3 on Saturday. Third-placed Atletico Madrid stayed 10 points off the lead after losing 1-0 at Las Palmas on Saturday. Fourth-placed Athletic are six points behind Atletico.

“The goal didn’t want to come until Valverde once again came up with a wonder goal, like he does best,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. ”This was a very important win, we want to keep fighting. Barça won yesterday and it was our turn to win.”

Fifth-placed Villarreal, five points behind Athletic with a game in hand, were held to a 2-2 draw with midtable Real Sociedad.

Athletic, which had only one attempt on target at the Bernabeu, were coming off two victories in a row in all competitions.

Among those in attendance at the Bernabeu were tennis player Novak Djokovic and gymnast Simone Biles, who were in Madrid for the Laureus Awards.