Karim Benzema scored the winner as Real Madrid beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to go level on points at the top of La Liga with Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
Real were fresh off a big 2-0 win over city rivals Atleti on Saturday that put Zinedine Zidane's side up to third in La Liga, three points behind Diego Simeone's league leaders. Los Blancos remain in third due to goal difference.
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The visitors were left to play most of the match with just 10 players after Raul Garcia was sent off after being shown his second yellow card in the opening 13 minutes for a pair of fouls.
Zidane's side took firm control in the latter stages of the first half and it finally paid off just before the break with an exquisite strike from Toni Kroos to give Real a 1-0 lead after the opening 45 minutes.
Real Madrid players celebrate after scoring a goal against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. Getty Images
Bilbao, who had looked dangerous at times in the first half, levelled the score shortly after the break when Thibaut Courtois spilled Ander Capa's close-range shot right back in his path and the Athletic man tucked the rebound away.
Real Madrid's top scorer Benzema fired the hosts back in front in the 74th minute with a fine header that left Athletic Bilbao keeper Unai Simon no chance.
Courtois made a huge save down the stretch to keep Real in the lead and Benzema added his second immediately after on the counter to seal the three points for the defending champions of Spain.
Source: espn.co.uk