Real Madrid CF ended their final LaLiga fixture of the season on a high with a 4-2 win over Athletic Club, as Dani Carvajal delivered a standout farewell performance at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

After a difficult closing stretch to the campaign, Los Blancos appeared intent on finishing strongly in front of their home supporters, with the match also serving as an emotional send-off for the departing right-back.

Carvajal, making his 451st and final appearance for the club, rolled back the years inside the opening 15 minutes, producing a beautifully weighted pass into the path of Gonzalo García. The forward took a touch to steady himself before calmly finishing past Alex Padilla to give Madrid an early lead.

That early goal set the tone for Real Madrid CF, with Thiago Pitarch soon going close to doubling the advantage, only for Alex Padilla to produce a strong save to deny the midfielder.

At the other end, Athletic Club struggled to pose any real threat in the final third, with Gorka Guruzeta sending a headed attempt well off target.

With Real having lost just one of their previous seven meetings against Athletic (W5, D1), they extended their control before the break when Jude Bellingham finished clinically from a lofted pass by Pitarch, netting for the second time in three matches.

Undeterred, Athletic Club struck back in first-half stoppage time through Gorka Guruzeta, who volleyed home from an inviting delivery by Iñaki Williams to hand Los Leones a lifeline before the interval.

However, any hopes of a comeback were swiftly ended by Real Madrid CF at the start of the second half, as Kylian Mbappé registered his 25th LaLiga goal of the season with a composed low finish from the edge of the box.

Athletic Club refused to go down without a fight, with Ernesto Valverde’s side continuing to pose occasional danger as Gorka Guruzeta and Adama Boiro both went close to reducing the deficit.

Those moments ultimately proved to be their best chances of mounting a comeback, as Real Madrid CF controlled the closing stages with ease.

The hosts capped off the win with a late fourth goal, as substitute Brahim Díaz finished from close range to round off a comfortable victory.

Athletic Club did manage a late consolation when Urko Izeta powered a towering header home from inside the box, but it did little to change the outcome as Real Madrid CF closed out their season with a third consecutive league victory, finishing eight points behind champions FC Barcelona.

For Athletic, the defeat capped a disappointing end to the campaign, as they missed out on a sixth straight top-half finish after losing eight of their final 12 LaLiga fixtures.