Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti highlighted their fringe players for victory at Athletic Bilbao.

Ancelotti was particularly pleased with Eden Hazard's performance as Karim Benzema struck twice for the win.

He said, “This is a huge win for us because I think we delivered a complete performance with a team which hasn't been used to so much game time recently. I really have to underline the efforts of Nacho, Lucas Vázquez, Camavinga, Valverde, Hazard, who haven't been playing too much but turned up today and put a superb shift in. It was a high quality game for the vast majority and they showed great commitment. That's the most important thing for me, almost as much as the 3 points, which is ultimately what counts.

“The celebration we do has become customary in recent games and the ovation for Karim was amazing. This is a ground with a wonderful atmosphere, I really love it and Karim deserved it."

On Hazard and Vinicius Junior, Ancelotti continued: “They understand what the team needs from them in a defensive sense. They did a great job. They worked hard and showed commitment and then brought real quality to the attacking play, especially early on. The difference, as we've said before, is in the defending. This team knows how to go forward, we can score goals because we have outstanding individuals but we struggle a little more at the other end, but we've done a good job so far.

"Hazard is important for the team. It's true that on an individual level he played better in this game, at a time when I wasn't sure about him physically, but he did well, I replaced him in the second half. He battled, he tried things up top. He's back, yes. He's back."