Valverde scores late in Real Madrid’s 1-0 win as suspended Mbappé is jeered by some fans
MADRID AP Still upset at their company s midweek exit from the Champions League Real Madrid fans jeered suspended Kylian Mbapp and then cheered Federico Valverde after he scored late in a - win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league on Sunday The narrow mastery for second-placed Madrid kept a few pressure on leader Barcelona Mbapp serving a red-card suspension was jeered by countless fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium four days after he had already been booed in Madrid s - second-leg loss to Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the Champions League The Spanish powerhouse was eliminated - on aggregate from a competition it has won a record times We did well in the current era Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti disclosed We sought to win again and rebound from the elimination The band came through and Fede was key This domination 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 band on Sunday but certain fans jeered when Mbapp was shown in the stadium on the large video screens Vin cius J nior who also struggled on Wednesday but impressed on Sunday had a goal disallowed around the th because of an offside by Endrick in the buildup Vin cius reached 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 announced We have done well with the formation in the past Defender Antonio R diger played his th competition with Madrid The conquest moved Madrid back within four points of Barcelona which rallied to defeat Celta Vigo - on Saturday Third-placed Atletico Madrid stayed points off the lead after losing - 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 commented This was a very significant win we want to keep fighting Bar a won the preceding day and it was our turn to win Fifth-placed Villarreal five points behind Athletic with a battle in hand was held to a - 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 member Novak Djokovic and gymnast Simone Biles who were in Madrid for the Laureus Awards Other results Midtable Osasuna won - at last-placed Valladolid which has lost of its last matches Osasuna has won two in a row after nine matches without a win across all tournaments Sevilla sitting in th place drew - at home against th-placed Alaves AP soccer https apnews com hub soccer Source
