Real Madrid welcomed Athletic Bilbao to the Bernabeu on Saturday knowing that three points would take them above Atletico Madrid into second position in the La Liga table.
Javier Eraso cancelled out an early Cristiano Ronaldo strike to leave the two teams on terms entering the latter stages of the first period, but goals from James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos saw Real Madrid lead 3-1 at the break.
There were two more goals in the second period - one for Ronaldo, who made it 4-1 in the 87th minute after Raphael Varane had been sent off, but Bilbao had a second late on through Gorka Elustondo.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Danilo; Kovacic, Modric, Kroos; James, Benzema, Ronaldo
BILBAO: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Laporte, Etxeita, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe; Eraso, Merino, Lekue; Aduriz
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© Getty Images
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Danilo; Kovacic, Modric, Kroos; James, Benzema, Ronaldo
BILBAO: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Laporte, Etxeita, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe; Eraso, Merino, Lekue; Aduriz
© Getty Images