Bilbao send Real down further

Trouble-torn Real Madrid slumped to their second defeat in three Primera Liga games when they lost 2-1 to a classy Athletic Bilbao side on S...

Trouble-torn Real Madrid slumped to their second defeat in three Primera Liga games when they lost 2-1 to a classy Athletic Bilbao side on Saturday. Athletic, without a win in their previous four matches, dominated at a packed San Mames, out-playing their bemused opponents who again struggled to find any fluency.

Goals from centre-forward Ismael Urzaiz and midfielder Santi Ezquerro gave the Basques a deserved 2-0 lead at halftime and although Raul pulled one back for Real soon after the break, the visitors never really threatened to stage a comeback.

Deportivo Coruna went some way to erasing the memory of their 5-1 thrashing by champions Valencia on Wednesday when they came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 home draw with Real Betis in Saturday’s late match.

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Earlier, Atletico Madrid bounced back from a midweek defeat at Levante to claim a 1-0 home win over Villarreal thanks to a bullet header from striker Salva Ballesta.

Atletico joined Valencia and Barcelona on 10 points at the top of the standings. Real are a point behind.

Athletic made a whirlwind start in front of their home crowd, mesmerising an out-of-sorts Real with their slick passing in midfield and pacy attacks on the wings.

The Basque side went ahead early when Asier del Horno swung in a cross from the left and Urzaiz made the most of slack marking from Raul Bravo to drift towards the far post where he controlled the ball with his right foot and cracked it home with his left.

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Athletic extended their lead on the stroke of halftime, Del Horno producing another great cross and Ezquerro getting in front of Bravo to head home.

Real were thrown a lifeline at the start of the second half when Raul scored his first league goal, but it was too little too late.

(Reuters)