Madrid, Apr 22: 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 on Sunday.The narrow victory for second-placed Madrid kept some pressure on leader 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 quarterfinals of the Champions League. The Spanish powerhouse was eliminated 5-1 on aggregate from a competition it has 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 on Sunday, 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 on Sunday, 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, which faces Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday in Seville.
“He played well in that position,” Ancelotti said. “We have done well with the formation in the past.”
Defender Antonio Rüdiger played his 150th game with Madrid.
The victory moved Madrid back within four points of Barcelona, which 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 is 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, was held to a 2-2 draw with midtable Real Sociedad.
Athletic, which had only one attempt on target at the Bernabeu, was 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.