A much improved performance from Real Madrid saw them move within three points of leaders Barcelona pending Sunday’s games after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-5 on Saturday evening.
Arjen Robben opened the scoring to give Real the perfect start and then Gabriel Heinze added a second after heading home a cross from Sneijder. Heinze, though, not content to score at just one end, then put the ball into the back of his own net as Athletic went on the attack.
A few minutes later, Athletic were reduced to ten men after Francisco Yeste was given his marching orders for a foul on Iker Casillas. It didn’t stp them getting an equaliser just before hal-time, though, Llorente scoring with a header.
Just after the restart, Huntelaar restored Real’s lead and then increased it a short while later with his second goal of the night. Substitute Higuain made certain of the win by adding a fifth from the penalty spot. Eleven yellow and one red card in this match.
Valencia could only manage a draw against Recreativo Huelva as their run of poor form continues. Recreativo went ahead in the 55th minute courtesy of Adrian Columnas and it wasn’t until very late, and having been reduced to ten men after Marcena was asked to leave the field of play, that Valencia managed to scrape a draw with a goal from Hernandez.