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| Valverde’s Stunning Late Goal Lifts Real Madrid as Courtois Says: “We’ve Been Telling Him for Years – Just Shoot!” |
Real Madrid once again proved they have the heart of a champion after snatching a dramatic 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night. The hero of the match? None other than Federico Valverde, who scored a sensational goal deep into stoppage time to secure three vital points.
Interestingly, it wasn’t just fans who were amazed — goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois couldn’t hide his excitement either. The Belgian shot-stopper, currently recovering from injury, jokingly said, “We’ve been telling Fede for years – just shoot!”
Valverde: The Utility Player Turned Game Winner
Throughout the season, Valverde has been deployed in several roles, including right-back — not exactly his natural position. But that didn’t stop the Uruguayan from pulling off one of the most spectacular goals of the season.
Despite the shot being worth just 0.02 expected goals (xG), Valverde didn’t hesitate. He fired a rocket from outside the box that curled sharply and left Bilbao’s keeper Unai Simon with absolutely no chance.
Courtois: “His Shots Are Just Different”
Thibaut Courtois, speaking after the match, shared how special Valverde’s shooting ability is, especially during training.
“Fede has a unique shot — sharp, fast, and powerful,” Courtois said. “In training, he scores one or two goals like that every week. One time it even looked like the ball was going wide, but it swerved in at the last second. We’ve been telling him for years: ‘Shoot more often!’”
Valverde’s winner was Real Madrid’s fourth-latest goal in LaLiga since the year 2000, a true clutch moment that shows just how valuable his confidence and instincts can be.
Title Race Still Alive
With this win, Real Madrid remains in the hunt for the LaLiga title, now trailing just four points behind league leaders Barcelona. And the timing couldn’t be better — the two giants are set to face off in the Copa del Rey final this coming weekend.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised the team’s performance, especially in the second half.
“We were a bit slow in the first half,” Ancelotti admitted. “But in the second, we pushed harder, defended better, and really went for the win. It was the perfect response after getting knocked out of the Champions League.”
Bellingham and Vinicius Still Crucial
With Kylian Mbappé suspended, Jude Bellingham stepped in as a false nine. Though the English star didn’t find the back of the net, he still had five solid chances totaling 0.8 xG.
“He deserved to score,” Ancelotti said. “He was in the right places, especially in the second half. It just didn’t happen tonight.”
Vinicius Jr. also stood out as one of the most dangerous players on the pitch. Though his goal was disallowed, his energy and skill were key throughout the game.
“Vini was fantastic,” Ancelotti added. “He was exhausted by the end, but still gave everything. I love how he’s responded to a tough few days — he’ll be vital for the rest of the season.”
Athletic Bilbao Fought Hard But Came Up Short
On the other side, Athletic Bilbao struggled to generate offense, especially without their star forward Nico Williams. Ernesto Valverde’s team managed only three shots all game, with a combined xG of 0.19.
Still, winger Alex Berenguer felt the team put up a good fight.
“We played well overall,” he told LaLiga TV. “We held out almost until the end, but it’s Real Madrid — at the Bernabéu. They kept pressing and eventually one of those shots got through.”
“They just have too much quality. Eventually, you end up stuck in your own box, and it only takes one moment.”
This late win does more than just add three points to Madrid’s tally — it gives them serious momentum ahead of a huge week. With the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona just days away, morale is high and belief is back.
Thanks to Valverde’s wonder strike — and Courtois’ long-standing advice finally paying off — Real Madrid fans have every reason to dream big again.
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