Fernando Llorente's early goal gave Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 victory
over Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Saturday.
The Athletic striker was free in the box to head home his
sixth goal of the season after latching on to a corner that was
flicked on by Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra in the third minute.
Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made key saves on Madrid's
big three offseason signings - Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and
Kaka - including a diving save to stop Ronaldo during injury time.
Iraizoz made 12 saves in all as Athletic beat Madrid at San
Mames stadium for the first time since 2004.
Barcelona plays Sevilla later Saturday and could extend its
league lead over second-place Madrid to five points.
Earlier Saturday, two early goals gave Osasuna a 2-0 victory
over Espanyol to snap a five-game league winless streak.
Llorente's header made up for two Athletic misses in the
opening moments. Carlos Gurpegui beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas but
his low shot hit a post, and Gaizka Toquero then hit the other post
from the rebound.
Madrid responded with constant pressure, but Iraizoz tipped
Karim Benzema's swerving shot wide in the 11th.
After heading wide from inside the area, Ronaldo nodded a
ball high in the air in the 24th from Sergio Ramos' cross and then
collided with Iraizoz but the goalkeeper still swiped the looping
ball away before it crossed the line.
Benzema, who replaced injured striker Gonzalo Higuain,
swiveled before shooting to beat Iraizoz in the 34th but it bounced
off the far post straight into the 'keeper's hands.
Madrid seemed poised to equalize as Athletic sat back.
Iraizoz stopped long shots from Marcelo and Xabi Alonso before
Ezequiel Garay headed a good chance wide not long before the break.
Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini brought midfielder Jose Maria
"Guti" Gutierrez on for Marcelo in the 60th.
Benzema unleashed a fierce shot inside the area only to be
denied by Iraizoz, who soon after stopped Guti's low free kick
through the defensive wall.
Iraizoz also stopped Kaka from scoring in the 69th by
blocking the Brazil midfielder's volley. Kaka finally beat Iraizoz
moments later but his shot went over the bar from close range.
Kaka also half-volleyed a shot from inside the area into the
side-netting in the 83rd.
Five minutes later, Athletic counterattacked but Casillas
saved David Lopez's rising shot. Alonso looked to have tripped
Llorente inside the area in injury time but wasn't penalized.
Athletic finished with 10 men when Gurpegui was sent off for
a trip on Ramos in the closing stages, when Ronaldo sent a free
kick over goal in Madrid's final chance.
At Pamplona, Juanfran Torres beat goalkeeper Cristian
Alvarez, who was filling in for Carlos Kameni away on African Cup
duty, with a low shot in the fifth minute before Walter Pandiani
headed home a cross three minutes later.
Osasuna were reduced to 10 men with Roberto "Ruper" Lopez's
sending off in the 4st. Facundo Roncaglia wrongly joined Lopez in
the stands eight minutes later after the referee showed the
Espanyol defender a second yellow even though teammate David Garcia
was the one who fouled Carlos Aranda.
Osasuna improved to 20 points while Espanyol has 19.
Later Saturday, leader Barcelona plays Sevilla for the third
time in 11 days, while Real Madrid looks to keep the pressure on
the Spanish champions with a victory at Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona has 43 points, Madrid has 41, Valencia 35,
Deportivo 31 while Sevilla and Mallorca share 30.
In Sunday's games, it's: Malaga vs. Getafe; Racing Santander
vs. Valladolid; Almeria vs. Tenerife; Zaragoza vs. Xerez; Mallorca
vs. Deportivo; Atletico Madrid vs. Sporting Gijon; and Valencia vs.
Villarreal.
