La Liga wrap: Real, Barca net 4-1 wins

Real Madrid came from behind to brush aside Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in La Liga, after Barcelona beat Malaga by a similar scoreline.

Visitors Athletic began at a furious pace, and threatened their hosts several times in the opening minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The visitors’ early efforts were rewarded in the 13th minute, when a sweeping move saw Ander Herrera feed Javi Martinez, who burst from his post in central defence to support the attack.

Martinez’s pinpoint delivery from the right was met with a first-time effort from Fernando Llorente, leaving Iker Casillas with absolutely no chance.

Oscar De Marcos should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards, but scuffed his shot wide of the target from inside the area.

Real then came to life and punished Athletic’s profligacy.

A neat exchange of passes between Marcelo and Ronaldo led to the Brazilian fullback bursting into the area, before beating Gorka Iraizoz with a composed finish from 12 yards out.

The home side struggled to impose themselves during the remainder of the first half, but normal service resumed just 25 seconds into the second period.

Ander Iturraspe dragged Kaka to the floor inside the area, and Ronaldo dispatched the resulting penalty to give Real a 2-1 lead.

Athletic’s commendable first-half display was rendered irrelevant when they went 3-1 down in the 66th minute.

Mesut Oezil burst through on goal, only to have his legs swept from under him by De Marcos, who received a straight red card, leaving Ronaldo to convert from the spot for the second time in the match.

Jose Maria Callejon capped off the victory with a fourth goal four minutes from time, beating Iraizoz at the far post after being played in by Higuain.

The win keeps Real top, five points ahead of Barcelona.

The reigning champions ensured they kept pace with a 4-1 win of their own away to Malaga.

Lionel Messi claimed a hat-trick with a goal in the first half and two in the second, while Chile international Alexis Sanchez bagged the other.

Salomon Rondon netted a consolation goal for Malaga with five minutes remaining.

Third-placed Valencia lost ground on the top two when they could only draw 1-1 away to Osasuna.

Elsewhere, Ivan Ramis’ 57th-minute goal was enough for Mallorca to beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 away from home.

Finally, fourth-placed Levante were held 0-0 in their match at home to bottom side Real Zaragoza.