Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 2

Athletic: Lafuente; Lacruz, Luis Prieto, Ustariz (Murillo 46'), Amorebieta; Orbaiz, Gurpegui; Iraola, Aduriz, Dañobeitia (Julen Guerrero 71'); Urzaiz (Llorente 61'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Woodgate, Roberto Carlos; Pablo García (Gravesen 25'); Cicinho (Raúl Bravo 88'), Guti (Baptista 90'), Zidane, Robinho; Ronaldo. 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Athletic: Dañobeitia, Urzaiz for Yeste, Llorente / Madrid: Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Pablo García for Mejía, Gravesen, Beckham.

Goals:
0-1. 05. Robinho. Ran on to Zidane through ball and shot low under Lafuente.
0-2. 93. Raúl Bravo. Tap in close to goal after Robinho laid ball across.

Real Madrid recovered from their shock 6-1 cup defeat in Zaragoza by recording a rare league victory in San Mamés. Any nerves the Galacticos may have had were calmed when they took an early lead. Zidane's through ball found Robinho who tucked the ball home between the legs of the advancing Lafuente.

Casillas was called into action when he had to punch clear a header from Urzaiz who was making his 400th appearance in the top flight. Ronaldo had a good opportunity to increase Madrid's lead when he failed to control a ball area. Perhaps he thought he was offside, however there was no flag.

Just after the half hour mark Casillas, who had never tasted victory with his club in Bilbao, helped put that record right with a double save from Urzaiz and Iraola. Real broke quickly to the other end where Ronaldo set up Robinho but on this occasion the young Brazilian's finishing was woeful. The two Brazilians combined again a few minutes later with Ronaldo heading down for Robinho to hit a shot which Lafuente did well to block.

Towards half time play was swinging from end to end with Casillas pushing away a powerful Urzaiz strike and Ronaldo going it alone after mesmerising the Bilbao defence before Lafuente again came to Bilbao's rescue.

Early in the second half Aduriz was given a free header from a set piece but he badly mistimed his jump and the effort didn't trouble Casillas. Aduriz was involved in an incident in the box with Woodgate that had the home fans and players claiming for a penalty but contact looked minimal.

The veteran Urzaiz left the field to applause on the hour mark and was replaced by Llorente. After only a few minutes on the field the young Basque striker had a great opportunity to set Aduriz free on the edge of the penalty area but elected instead to blast over.

Amorebieta almost caught out Casillas with cross-cum-shot with 15 minutes to go but the ball landed on top of the Madrid net. Real finished the stronger with Lafuente blocking from Cicinho. With two minutes left Gurpegi headed over Athletic's last chance from an inswinging Guerrero corner. But the game was up for Bilbao when man of the match Robinho set up substitute Raul Bravo for Madrid's second in injury time.