Real Madrid 2 Athletic Bilbao 1: Alvaro Morato leaves it late to send Zinedine Zidane’s side top of La Liga

REAL MADRID had birthday boy Alvaro Morata to thank as they returned to top spot in La Liga with a late victory over Athletic Bilbao.
The Blancos had to wait until seven minutes from time to seal a hard-fought 2-1 win at the Bernabeu.

Substitute Morata, who turned 24 on Monday, was the matchwinner at the second attempt after Gorka Iraizoz had saved his initial effort.

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Karim Benzema had given last season’s Champions League winners the lead after finishing from Isco’s square ball on seven minutes.
The visitors drew level twenty minutes later through Sabin Merino, and they made life extremely difficult until finally their defence was breached in the closing stages.

Cristiano Ronlado was unusually off form, missing a host of chances, but fortunately for the Portuguese frontman his younger team-mate Morata was able to spare his blushes.

Madrid regained top spot from Sevilla, who had briefly climbed to the summit after Steven N’Zonzi’s winner against Atletico Madrid.

The former Blackburn and Stoke man struck with the game’s only goal with just over quarter of an hour to go.
Things got worse for Diego Simeone’s outfit, who were unbeaten previously, when star man Koke was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.