Madrid: Real Madrid dropped their first points of the season after being held to a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao. It put them behind by two points (10 from four games) from Barcelona who earlier in the day had won their match against Real Sociedad.
Iker Muniain gave Athletic a deserved lead in the 32nd minute in Bilbao by bundling the ball home after Real Madrid failed to get back in time to defend a counter attack.
However, the visitors were twice denied by Athletic’s impressive 21-year-old goalkeeper Unai Simon in the first half but finally beat the youngster when Isco nodded home a cross from Gareth Bale in the 63rd minute as Madrid improved after bringing on midfield anchor Casemiro at the start of the second half.
Simon made two more outstanding saves to thwart Marco Asensio and Sergio Ramos although Athletic continued to counter, Inaki Williams smashing wide and the Basques being denied a penalty when the ball struck Casemiro on the arm while the Brazilian was on the floor.
The decision enraged Athletic supporters in a hostile atmosphere at San Mames, which was mirrored on the pitch as referee Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez handed out eight yellow cards, six to Athletic players.
“This is a very difficult ground to come to, for the team they have and for how they play. They come looking for you, they press you man-for-man and make life hard for you and if you don’t find ways deal with that it’s tough,” said Real Madird coach Julen Lopetegui. “That’s what happened in the first half but we improved a lot in the second.”
