By Simon Baskett
MADRID, Dec 8 - Real Madrid charged seven points
clear at the top of the Primera Liga after a second-half strike
from Ruud van Nistelrooy earned a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on
Saturday.
The Dutchman angled a powerful right-foot shot into the far
corner of the net after 55 minutes to take his tally for the
season to seven in the league.
The victory gave Bernd Schuster's side 35 points from 15
matches, seven ahead of Barcelona and Villarreal who both play
on Sunday.
Earlier, Ronald Koeman's Valencia continued their poor run
of form with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.
The Dutchman decided to field a new-look side after last
weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Bilbao but his tactical changes
had little effect as Valencia turned in another laboured
performance.
Valencia, who have won two of their last seven league
matches and have failed to find the net in their last three,
remain sixth, 10 points behind Real.
AMBITIOUS START
Athletic thrashed Valencia 3-0 last weekend and made an
ambitious start in front of their home crowd, striker Fernando
Llorente heading over the bar and midfielder David Lopez firing
straight at keeper Iker Casillas in the first few minutes.
But Real rose to the challenge, Bilbao keeper Daniel
Aranzubia having to make two great reaction saves to stop
quickfire shots from Raul and Robinho.
Casillas produced a stunning save of his own to block a
point-blank header from Llorente just before the half hour, but
despite plenty of action in both areas neither side was able to
break the deadlock before halftime.
It took just one error from Athletic early in the second
half for that to change, Van Nistelrooy snapping the ball off
the foot of defender, cutting inside towards the area and
firing an angled shot into the far corner to put his side
ahead.
The former Manchester United player was only denied a
second when defender Koikili whipped the ball away from his
feet as he was bearing down on goal, while Robinho hit the base
of the post soon after with a fierce drive from distance.
Athletic refused to wilt under the pressure and Llorente
and Andoni Iraola both went close late on in an exciting
finale.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez and Greg Stutchbury)