Real Madrid beaten 2-0 by Athletic Bilbao

Madrid:

Real Madrid's Spanish Primera Liga title hopes suffered a massive blow on Saturday when they were beaten 2-0 by Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Second half goals from Asier Del Horno and Andoni Iraola sealed a deserved win for Bilbao. Bilbao gave an early warning as to their attacking intent when Andoni Iraola's audacious 17th minute effort from just inside the Real half of the pitch hit the crossbar. Lead not given The ball bounced over the goal line and in, but it then rebounded away from Iker Casillas's goal and a 1-0 Bilbao lead was not given. Bilbao should have led 1-0 at half-time, but they opened the scoring in the 59th minute. Pablo Orbaiz swung in a cross from the right wing and poor defending would allow Asier Del Horno to head his side into the lead. Real should have levelled the score nine minutes later when Jose Maria Guti played Luis Figo into space. Stopper shot The Portuguese international was brought down by Aranzubia after moving the ball wide, but a penalty kick was not given and David Beckham's follow-up was blocked by the Bilbao shot stopper. Ronaldo, Raul and Zidane all made their bows from the substitute bench moments later, but they could do nothing to stop Bilbao taking a 2-0 lead in the 74th minute. The impressive Iraola took advantage of poor Real defending, beat the home side's offside trap and coolly slotted past Casillas to effectively seal the win. (AP)