Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Real Madrid

Benzema scored his 16th goal of the season against Athletic

Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to five points with a narrow win against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames Stadium.

Second-placed Barcelona, who have played the same amount of games as Real, host Valencia on Sunday.

Real, who are chasing their first league title since 2011-12, went ahead through Karim Benzema on 25 minutes.

Veteran striker Aritz Aduriz equalised on 65 minutes, before Casemiro scored the winner three minutes later.

• Relive Real's narrow win as they extend their La Liga lead

Athletic went into the game with the second-best home record in the league behind Real, and boasting just one defeat all season at the San Mames, which came against Barcelona in August.

Real weathered some early pressure to take the lead as Cristiano Ronaldo squared for Benzema and the France striker placed a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The first half was a heated affair with Casemiro, Dani Carvajal and Aduriz all booked.

Athletic almost equalised immediately after the break, as Aduriz sent a header towards the far post and Keylor Navas and Sergio Ramos got in each other's way, before the defender managed to clear.

The impressive Inaki Williams was Athletic's best attacker and gave Marcelo a torrid time on the left. The 22-year-old, who has been linked with Liverpool, forced Navas into a good save from point-blank range on 64 minutes.

Two minutes later, the equaliser came as Raul Garcia headed a cross across the box to 36-year-old Spanish international Aduriz who placed his header past Navas from close range.

Aritz Aduriz's equaliser was his ninth La Liga goal of the season

The lead did not last though, as Real quickly responded from a corner.

Toni Kroos' corner was flicked on by Ronaldo to Casemiro at the far post, who controlled with his chest and then shot from close range to score.

Wales forward Gareth Bale, who returned after a two-match ban, was subdued, with a powerful left-footed shot on 27 minutes his best effort in the match.

Las Palmas coach to leave

Elsewhere, Las Palmas coach Quique Setien announced on Saturday he will leave the Canary Island club at the end of the season.

Setien, 58, was hired in October 2015 and has led Las Palmas to safety in each of the past two seasons.

The announcement came a day after they beat Villarreal 1-0, thanks to a Kevin-Prince Boateng strike.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Ath Bilbao

• 26Arrizabalaga Revuelta
• 18De Marcos Arana
• 27Álvarez
• 4Laporte
• 24Balenziaga Oruesagasti
• 7EtxebarriaSubstituted forRicoat 79'minutes
• 8Iturraspe Derteano
• 11Williams
• 22GarcíaSubstituted forSusaetaat 86'minutes
• 15LekueSubstituted forMuniain Goñiat 59'minutes
• 20AdurizBooked at 28mins

Substitutes

• 1Iraizoz
• 2Bóveda
• 3Elustondo Urkola
• 10Muniain Goñi
• 14Susaeta
• 17Rico
• 25Saborit Teixidor

Real Madrid

• 1NavasBooked at 90mins
• 2CarvajalBooked at 28mins
• 6Nacho
• 4Ramos
• 12Marcelo
• 19ModricSubstituted forVázquezat 62'minutes
• 14CasemiroBooked at 31mins
• 8KroosBooked at 71mins
• 11Bale
• 9BenzemaSubstituted forMorataat 85'minutes
• 7Cristiano RonaldoSubstituted forIscoat 79'minutes

Substitutes

• 10Rodríguez
• 13Casilla
• 16Kovacic
• 17Vázquez
• 21Morata
• 22Isco
• 23Danilo

Referee:

Santiago Jaime Latre

Attendance:

49,164

Match Stats

Home TeamAth BilbaoAway TeamReal Madrid

Possession

Home52%

Away48%

Shots

Home12

Away9

Shots on Target

Home5

Away4

Corners

Home5

Away5

Fouls

Home17

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Athletic Club 1, Real Madrid 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Athletic Club 1, Real Madrid 2.

Booking

Posted at 90'+3'

Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 90'+2'

Offside, Athletic Club. Muniain tries a through ball, but Iñaki Williams is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+1'

Markel Susaeta (Athletic Club) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).

Posted at 89'

Foul by Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid).

Posted at 89'

Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. De Marcos (Athletic Club) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Balenziaga with a cross.

Substitution

Posted at 86'

Substitution, Athletic Club. Markel Susaeta replaces Raul García.

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Real Madrid. Álvaro Morata replaces Karim Benzema.

Posted at 85'

Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Dangerous play by Yeray Álvarez (Athletic Club).

Posted at 84'

Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Raul García (Athletic Club).

Posted at 83'

Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).

Posted at 83'

Balenziaga (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Aduriz (Athletic Club).

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Athletic Club. Mikel Rico replaces Beñat Etxebarria.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Real Madrid. Isco replaces Cristiano Ronaldo.

Posted at 79'

Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Balenziaga (Athletic Club).

Posted at 78'

Foul by Karim Benzema (Real Madrid).

Posted at 78'

De Marcos (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Athletic Club. Conceded by Keylor Navas.

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by De Marcos.

Posted at 73'

Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Muniain (Athletic Club).

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Marcelo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Booking

Posted at 71'

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).

Posted at 70'

Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Aduriz (Athletic Club).

Goal!

Posted at 68'

Goal! Athletic Club 1, Real Madrid 2. Casemiro (Real Madrid) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo following a corner.

Posted at 68'

Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 68'

Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Yeray Álvarez.

Posted at 68'

Attempt blocked. Marcelo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Karim Benzema.

Posted at 66'

Offside, Real Madrid. Karim Benzema tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.

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