In a thrilling encounter on Sunday, Real Madrid edged past Athletic Bilbao with a stunning late goal from Federico Valverde, clinching a 1-0 victory that keeps them hot on the heels of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

Athletic Bilbao, fielding a heavily rotated squad, put up a robust defense, holding Madrid at bay until Valverde struck just three minutes into stoppage time. Seizing on a poorly executed clearance, Valverde unleashed a sensational volley that curled beautifully into the far top corner, leaving the crowd in raptures.

"Fede has a very unusual shot, a very good one," remarked Real's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. "In training, he regularly scores goals that leave us all questioning how he did it! He's been encouraged to shoot more often, and today’s goal is a testament to that."

Earlier in the match, Vinicius Junior thought he had opened the scoring for Real Madrid with a low effort in the 79th minute, only for VAR to rule it out due to an offside by Endrick in the build-up.

This victory comes as a much-needed response for Madrid after their disappointing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Arsenal. With this win, they secure 69 points, establishing a six-point buffer ahead of Atletico Madrid, who shockingly lost 1-0 to Las Palmas.

The first half was largely uneventful, but Jude Bellingham had the first clear chance for Madrid with a close-range header, which was magnificently saved by Athletic's Unai Simón, keeping the scoreline level as the tension grew.

Despite recently advancing to the Europa League semi-finals, Athletic's lack of offensive creativity proved costly as they struggled to threaten Madrid. The late defeat leaves them in fourth place on the table with 57 points, adding pressure as they aim to secure their position in the upper echelons of LaLiga.

Madrid’s dramatic win not only boosts their title hopes but showcases Valverde's incredible talent — a player who, when unleashed, can indeed deliver magic at the most critical moments.