New Delhi: Gonzalo Higuain scored twice as Real Madrid overcame a resilient Athletic Bilbao side who came from 2-0 down to equalise but eventually succumbed to the champions.
Real Madrid conceded twice after going two nil up in the Bernanbeu but they eventually ran out winners on Sunday evening thanks to a Gonzalo Higuain brace.
The Argentine scored the second and third goals of the victory and also struck the bar and had an effort incorrectly ruled out for offside early in the game.
Wesley Sneijder had given them the lead against the run of play after just twelve minutes but Bilbao, despite their poor league position and form, never let their heads drop and they twice fought back.
Their first goal was well taken by Joseba Etxeberria whilst the second was a very debatable penalty which Andoni Iraola slotted home to make it all square at the break.
Higuain spoiled the day for the Basques though with two well taken goals and Bilbao also saw Fernando Amorebieta receive a straight red late in the second half for a tackle which meritted no more than a yellow.
It should have been the second red of the game but the referee only gave Marcelo a yellow for a very cynical tackle at the end of the first-half. Despite the result though Joaquín Caparrós will be pleased with the performance from his side as for large periods of the game they were actualy the better side and were only outdone by lacks of concentration in the defence.
Bernd Schuster on the other hand was notably fuming at the two goals conceded and has to sort the defence out if they are to challenge for silverware this year.
Bilbao comeback
The big news before the game was that Sergio Ramos was dropped from the starting XI after comments he made in the press in the week regarding his displeasure at not playing with anyone else defending on the right wing.
In his place came Míchel Salgado for only his second start of the season and neither Guti or Mahamadou Diarra made the first team due to injury. Bilbao lined up reasonably defensively with Fernando Llorente playing upfront on his own but they started off by far the better team.
They looked composed in possession and peppered the Real Madrid box with crosses in the first ten minutes, but with no real chances created. The hosts on the other hand had a Gonzalo Higuain goal wrongly ruled out for offside and saw a highly ambitious effort from Sneijder from the half-way line sail a couple of feet wide.
They did take the lead though against the run of play with just ten minutes gone as Sneijder was played though neatly and then drilled a shot low and across goal which Gorka Iraizoz had no chance with in the Bilbao goal.
It was harsh on the visitors but it didn't disuade them from playing as they had been and Llorente went close with a header before he saw another one brilliantly saved low by Iker Casillas.
Again though Real Madrid had a goalscoring chance when they were looking second best as Sneijder picked up on a cut back in the box and drilled low against the base of the post.
They were starting to play better though and Arjen Robben nearly got in down the left but was tackled well by Andoni Iraola eventually. The Dutchman was key just minutes later though as he set up the second goal for Real Madrid for Higuain to score.
Robben dribbled with it in midfield, taking two defenders with him and found Rafael Van Der Vaart who did a brilliant flick through to the Argentinian and he slotted it past Gorka and into the far corner.
Bilbao and Caparrós looked stunned by the scoreline after not playing particularly badly for the first 30 minutes but finding themselves two goals down. They managed to keep plugging away though and eventually got their reward as they pulled a goal back with about ten minutes left in the half.
David Lopez begun the move as he cut across the front of the box to Yeste who played a lovely ball through to Joseba Etxeberria and the veteran midfielder shot hard into the far corner and past Casillas.
It was no more than the visitors deserved for their hard work and as the half drew to a close they drew level thanks to a very marginal call from the referee.
Bilbao won a free-kick half way inside the Real Madrid which was chipped into the box towards Llorente and as it went over his head the referee blew for a foul on him when there appeared to be only the slightest of touches from the Real Madrid defenders.
That is not to say the Basque striker went down easily but it was a generous decision to give and a very brave on bearing in mind it was at the Bernabeu. Iraola stepped up to slot home calmly into the corner and in doing so became the clubs top scorer this season with his second of the campaign.
It was hard to argue the scoreline at half-time but their is little doubt the penalty was harsh although Real Madrid could have gone in to the dressing room with just ten men after Marcelo was lucky to only see yellow for a late and malicious tackle on Etxeberria to prevent him playing advantage from a foul.
With two more yellow cards for descent to Sneijder and Etxeberria the whistle finally went to signal the end to a frantic half which Bilbao had contested well and had certainly ended better than their hosts.
Gonzalo goal
They came out flying after the interval too and immediately attacked down the left flank where Mikel Balenziaga burst forward to win what he thought was a corner but was given as a goal-kick. Real Madrid had the first real chances though as they hit the bar twice within a minute through Gabriel Heinze and Higuain.
First the midfielder bent a shot from outside the box onto the bar and then from a corner just a few seconds later the ball dropped to Heinze just a few meters out and he smashed it hard but it rattled the crossbar and flew safe.
The hosts seemed to be playing with a little more pace and desire and they were controlling the possession early on but Bilbao should have scored themselves as substitute Joseba Garmendia found himself away down the wing and squared well for Igor Gabilondo who shot wide.
They paid for the miss just a few minutes later too as Real Madrid took the lead thanks to Higuain who was played through brilliantly by Fernando Gago to shoot low past Gorka in the Bilbao goal.
Again though Bilbao didn't let their heads drop and they worked the ball around well but just couldn't find that breakthrough as Lopez saw a free-kick from a decent position hit the wall.
Just minutes later they were dealt a devastating blow too as Fernando Amorebieta was given a straight red card for a tackle from behind in the Real Madrid half.
It was an unnecessary tackle there is no doubt but it didn't look like a red card offence and was by no means the worst challenge of the game.
Bilbao started to look tired though and although Llorente struck with the post with a fine effort from 25 yards they could not find an equaliser this time and Higuain should have had the chance to score a hat-trick but he was again ruled offside wrongly when he was through for a one-on-one.
The final whistle eventually went though to call time on a thoroughly exciting game which had everything and which Bilbao possibly deserved to take something from for a brave display.
Real Madrid 3-2 Athletic Bilbao
1-0 '12 Sneijder
2-0 '28 Higuain
2-1 '34 Etxeberria
2-2 '44 Iraola
3-2 '58 Higuain
Bookings: '35 Pepe, '45 Etxeberria, '45 Sneijder, '45 Marcelo, '63 Orbaiz, '65 Salgado, '89 Llorente
Sendings Off: '76 Amorebieta
Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo, Gago, Sneijder ('77), Van der Vaart ('59 Guti), Robben, Higuain, Raul ('88 Saviola)
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Ocio, Amorebieta, Balenziaga; Gabilondo ('81 Casas), Orbaiz, Yeste ('83 Susaeta), David Lopez, Etxeberria ('55 Garmendia), Llorente
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