Real Madrid 4-2 Athletic Club Player Ratings: Thiago Pitarch 9.0/10 Stars as Carvajal and Alaba Receive Emotional Bernabeu Farewells in 4-2 Win

The final whistle at the Bernabeu was always going to carry more weight than the scoreline suggested, and so it proved on a night drenched in farewell emotion and end-of-season significance. Daniel Carvajal, 34 years old, one club, an entire career worn on his sleeve, walked off the Santiago Bernabeu pitch for the very last time, while David Alaba followed him shortly after in a double send-off that had the Real Madrid faithful reaching for something more than mere applause.

Thiago Pitarch was the unexpected star, threading everything together on the pitch. Two assists, one for Garcia's 12th-minute opener and another for Bellingham's breathtaking 41st-minute volley, made the young Spaniard the creative force behind a dominant Madrid display that Athletic Club simply could not contain for the majority of the evening.

The scoreline ebbed and flowed with Guruzeta pulling one back in first-half stoppage time and Izeta adding a late consolation, yet neither moment threatened to overshadow what was fundamentally a comfortable Madrid victory, or the deeply personal significance of a night at the Bernabeu that will live with everyone present long after the final La Liga table has been filed away and forgotten. Here are Sportsdunia's Real Madrid vs Athletic Club player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Pitarch was outstanding and his 9.0/10 rating reflected a display of creative intelligence that completely drove Madrid's attacking momentum.
• Carvajal's final contribution, an assist for Garcia's opener, was the perfect farewell story.
• Bellingham's spectacular left-footed volley was the individual goal of the match and the defining moment that put the game beyond Athletic's reach.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Athletic Club

Here are the Real Madrid player ratings vs Athletic Club.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - 6.5: A bit of a strange day for the Belgian giant. He conceded two goals, but from our perspective, there wasn't a whole lot he could do about either of them. His distribution was as reliable as ever, boasting a 96% pass accuracy. He lost possession only three times, which is impressive. It wasn't a heroic performance, but he did what was required of him without any major errors. A standard day at the office.

Defenders

Daniel Carvajal - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a constant outlet on the right flank and capped his performance with a crucial assist. What stood out to us was his creative spark, crafting a big chance for his team. He was solid for most of the game, though he did lose the ball nine times. Still, a very positive and impactful performance before being subbed off late on.

David Alaba - 6.0: A somewhat shaky performance from the experienced Austrian. While his passing numbers look good on paper, he lost possession 10 times and didn't seem entirely comfortable. He made a couple of vital clearances but was part of a defence that looked vulnerable. We noticed he was taken off with 20 minutes to go, which felt like the right call.

Raúl Asencio - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular outing for Asencio. He was positionally sound for the most part, making three clearances and blocking a shot. We were impressed by how he drew four fouls, showing a cleverness in his defensive work. He played his part in the win, but like the rest of the backline, the two goals conceded take a little shine off his rating.

Álvaro Carreras - 8.0: We thought he was absolutely fantastic down the left. He was a dynamo, bombing forward to provide an assist and completing two successful dribbles. Defensively, he was a rock, winning a staggering eight of his eleven duels and making five ball recoveries. His energy was infectious and he was one of Madrid's best players on the day.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham - 8.0: What more can you say about this man? He was everywhere. He grabbed a goal with a clinical finish, demonstrating his incredible instinct. Beyond the goal, he was a constant driving force, winning five duels and drawing four fouls. The early yellow card was a silly one, but it didn't stop him from bossing the midfield battle. A top-tier performance.

Federico Valverde - 7.0: The engine of the team, as always. He didn't get on the scoresheet or provide an assist, but his importance cannot be overstated. With over 100 touches and an immense work rate, he connected defence and attack seamlessly. His tireless running created space for others. A typically selfless and effective display from the Uruguayan.

Franco Mastantuono - 6.5: A promising display from the youngster. He showed flashes of real quality, with a couple of nice dribbles and a good sense of positioning. He didn't set the world on fire and his final product was sometimes lacking, but he held his own in a high-paced game. There's a lot of talent there, and this was another good step in his development.

Thiago Pitarch - 9.0: Our man of the match, without a shadow of a doubt. What an incredible performance. He was the architect of this victory, providing two beautiful assists and running the show from midfield. He was not just a creative force but also a tenacious ball-winner, winning eight duels. The only slight blemish was a yellow card, but otherwise, this was a masterful display that tore Athletic Club apart. Absolutely outstanding.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappé - 7.5: He got his goal, as he so often does. His pace and movement were a constant nightmare for the opposition defenders. However, it felt like a slightly wasteful day for him. He was caught offside five times which killed several attacks, and he missed a big chance he'd normally bury. Still, a goal and a constant threat is a good day's work.

Gonzalo García - 7.0: The perfect poacher's performance. He had very few touches of the ball, but he made the most important one count, slotting home the opening goal. It was his only shot of the game. You can't ask for much more from your striker. He did his job perfectly before being substituted.

Substitutes

Dean Huijsen - 6.0: Came on for Alaba and helped see the game out. Looked composed enough.

Daniel Ceballos - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make a real impact.

Arda Guler - N/A: A late cameo.

Brahim Diaz - 6.5: Was energetic and he'd scored.

Manuel Serrano - N/A: Replaced Carvajal in the final minutes.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 7.5: His game plan worked offensively. The team scored four goals and played some breathtaking football going forward, securing a vital win in La Liga. However, he'll be concerned by how easily his defence was breached on two occasions at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. A great result, but there's still work to do on the defensive side of things.

Athletic Club Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Check out the Athletic Club player ratings vs Real Madrid.

Goalkeeper

Álex Padilla - 4.5: A truly thankless task for the keeper. He shipped four goals, and it was a rough night. He did make four saves, a couple of which were quite good. But his distribution was a massive problem, with a shocking 21% pass accuracy. He was put under immense pressure, and it showed.

Defenders

Dani Vivian - 4.0: A night to forget for the defender. He was part of a backline that was completely run ragged by Real Madrid's attack. He struggled to cope with the movement of Mbappe and Bellingham, winning only half of his duels. Just couldn't get a grip on the game.

Aitor Paredes - 4.0: Much like his partner, Paredes had a torrid time. He was often caught in no-man's land and was dribbled past too easily. While he made four clearances, the defensive unit as a whole was shambolic, and he has to take his share of the responsibility. A very difficult evening.

Yeray Álvarez - 4.5: Lasted only until halftime, which tells you everything you need to know. He was hooked after a first half where his side conceded twice and looked all at sea. He won a few duels but couldn't impose any authority on the backline.

Adama Boiro - 5.5: At least he showed some fight. He was one of the few Athletic players who tried to take the game to Madrid, completing three dribbles. However, he was still part of that porous defence and was defensively suspect at times. A mixed bag of effort and defensive lapses.

Midfielders

Iñaki Williams - 8.0: The captain was his team's best player by a country mile. He was a creative spark in a struggling side, providing two brilliant assists and creating two big chances. His pass accuracy was poor, but that's because he was trying to make things happen. He carried the fight to Madrid almost single-handedly.

Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta - 5.0: Completely anonymous in the midfield battle. He struggled to get on the ball and was often bypassed by Madrid's slick passing. Lost possession 11 times in his 60 minutes. He was rightly substituted as he just couldn't get into the match.

Mikel Jauregizar - 6.0: A battling, if chaotic, performance. He certainly put himself about, winning seven duels and making three tackles. But he also gave away five fouls and his use of the ball was poor. A lot of energy and fight, but not a lot of quality.

Unai Gómez - 3.5: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. With only 11 touches in 60 minutes, he was a complete passenger in the game. He committed three fouls and offered absolutely nothing going forward or defensively. A really poor performance and probably the worst on the pitch.

Robert Navarro - 5.5: He tried to be creative, creating three chances for his teammates. He looked tidy in possession at times. However, he lacked a decisive final ball and faded in and out of the game. A decent effort, but ultimately not enough to hurt Madrid.

Forwards

Gorka Guruzeta - 7.0: He worked his socks off up front and got a well-deserved goal for his efforts. He was a constant threat, registering four shots. He did miss a big chance, but his work rate and goal were big positives for the visitors. A good shift.

Substitutes

Gorosabel - 6.0: Came on at halftime and the defence didn't exactly improve.

Inigo Lekue Martinez - 6.0: Added some fresh legs but didn't change the game.

Alejandro Rego - N/A: Limited minutes.

Urko Izeta - 7.0: Made a great impact, coming on to score a late consolation goal.

Mikel Vesga - N/A: Came on late to see out the match.

Manager

E. Valverde - 5.0: Credit to him for setting his team up to have a go, and they were rewarded with two goals. However, the defensive approach was suicidal. His team was far too open and was brutally punished for it. He failed to adapt, and his side was deservedly beaten. A tough lesson for the experienced manager.

Man of the Match

Thiago Pitarch was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Unai Gómez was the worst performer.