Bilbao sink mighty Real Madrid

January 17, 2010

Real Madrid fell to their third defeat of the season losing 1-0 to a battling Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Saturday meaning leaders Barcelona can move five points clear with victory over Sevilla.

Spanish international forward Fernando Llorente headed the decisive goal after just two minutes and Bilbao survived an onslaught – with Karim Benzema, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo all going close – to hold on for an historic win.

Real dropped two points in their last away match with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna and fired blanks again in Bilbao and now sit two points behind Barca having played one game more.

Champions Barcelona face Sevilla for the third time in 11 days at Camp Nou later on Saturday knowing a win would see them go five points clear.

Sevilla eliminated Barcelona from the last 16 of the Kings Cup on Wednesday, largely thanks to a 2-1 win at Camp Nou, and hope to repeat the trick.

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini replaced injured top-scorer Gonzalo Higuain with Benzema for the Bilbao game, leaving captain and club legend Raul out in the cold once again.

Xabi Alonso overcame a niggle to start in midfield alongside Lass Diarra with Kaka and Ronaldo providing the guile going forward.

Bilbao were far from intimidated, however, and hit the woodwork twice in the first minute.

Carlos Gurpegi thumped the left hand post and the ball came out to Gaizka Toquero who crashed his shot against the other upright from close range.

It was a warning, but Real didn’t take enough notice as they conceded a minute later.

A corner from the left took a slight deflection and Llorente powered a header past international team-mate Iker Casillas.

Real had kept three consecutive clean sheets so the goal was a shock and they responded in the best fashion with Benzema forcing a save from Gorka Iraizoz.

On 34 minutes Real thought they had equalised when Kaka’s threaded pass found Benzema but the Frenchman’s shot came back off the post into Iraizoz’s grateful arms.

In the second half Llorente almost unlocked the Real defence with a great turn and footwork to bamboozle two defenders but couldn’t get his shot off.

Ronaldo, constantly jeered by the home fans, almost equalised on the hour mark but Iraizoz thwarted him.

Real used up all the options with Guti, Esteban Granero and Raul on as substitutes and it was backs to the wall for the hosts.

Ronaldo was denied by a brilliant save in stoppage time and Bilbao held on for a much-needed final whistle.

Earlier Osasuna won their first league match since the end of November with two early goals inside a minute securing a 2-0 home victory over Espanyol on Saturday.

Osasuna had gone four games without a win or a goal in the league but had a terrific start against Espanyol scoring twice inside the first eight minutes through Juanfran and Walter Pandiani.

Espanyol hit the post and pushed hard but it was not to be as they fell to a sixth successive away defeat.

Valencia host derby rivals Villarreal in the highlight game on Sunday between two sides recovering from the disappointment of exiting the Kings Cup in midweek.

Villarreal are 12 points behind third-placed Valencia in the league and can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to have a shot at snatching one of the four Champions League slots.

MADRID (AFP)

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