Real Madrid bounced back from their Champions League heartbreak by crushing 10-man Athletic Bilbao 5-2 on Saturday to cut Barcelona’s lead in Spain to just three points.
Real saw their Champions League dreams disappear on Tuesday at Anfield as Liverpool overran them in a 4-0 win and they let out their frustration at San Mames.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice to turn the game in Real’s favor after Bilbao had come from two goals down to level.
PHOTO: AP
Arjen Robben put Real ahead before Gabriel Heinze added another in the 34th minute.
Heinze scored an own goal minutes later and Fernando Llorente levelled despite Bilbao being reduced to 10 men with Francisco Yeste harshly sent off for pushing goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Huntelaar then took center stage with a second half brace before substitute Gonzalo Higuain completed the scoring.
Robben shot Real into a 22nd minute lead showing a terrific burst of speed to get behind the Bilbao defense before scoring.
Heinze headed Real 2-0 up after 33 minutes but his joy was shortlived as he scored an own goal three minutes later.
Moments later, Yeste was red-carded for pushing over Casillas.
Llorente equalized close to half-time for Bilbao before Huntelaar killed them off.
Earlier, a goal from Pablo Hernandez earned Valencia a 1-1 draw against Recreativo Huelva.
Valencia fell behind to a Javier Camunas goal in the 54th minute and then had Carlos Marchena sent off for two bookable offences.
However, Hernandez netted an 82nd minute equalizer with a delightful chip to salvage a point at the Mestalla Stadium.
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