A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick and a brace from Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid a comfortable win over beleaguered Athletic Bilbao.
The result was never in question thanks to Ronaldo’s early strike, Madrid having too much pace, power and movement for an Athletic side devoid of intensity. If not for Gorka Iraizoz this could have been a catastrophic result for Ernesto Valverde.
Ronaldo scored after only a few minutes with a far-post header following some slick interplay on the right flank, Gareth Bale’s right-footed cross picking out the forward.
Benzema doubled the advantage minutes before the break, rising highest to convert a corner, winning the usual set-piece wrestling match.
It was three 10 minutes after half-time, Ronaldo getting a second with a tap-in after a delightful exchange between Benzema and Bale.
Ronaldo surprisingly squared to Benzema for the fourth goal after racing onto a Luka Modric pass, laying off when all that stood between him and a hat-trick was the on-rushing Gorka Iraizoz.
His third hat-trick in four games arrived before the final whistle and in fortunate fashion, the ball striking Ronaldo’s elbow after Pepe knocked a corner back across goal, Iraizoz wrong-footed.
Athletic went into the game with four points from their first six Leagues games, sitting second bottom of the table, and on the back of a Champions League defeat to BATE Borisov. Madrid meanwhile were looking for a sixth straight win in all competitions.
Madrid had Ronaldo and Pepe fit while Athletic made four changes from the side that lost to BATE, Aritz Aduriz among them, forced out through injury.
The match had barely begun when Ronaldo put Madrid in front from Madrid’s second attack and the Portugal captain nearly had a second a few minutes later, Iraizoz forced into a save low down at his near post.
A nasty clash of heads between Dani Carvajal and Benat Extebarria took both players out of the game for a while, Benat getting a bad cut stapled back together on the sidelines and eventually going off at half-time.
Athletic showed some life in forcing a few corners and testing Iker Casillas with a volley from the edge of the area, Iker Muniain’s striker tipped over the bar by the captain.
Bale shot wide as Madrid looked for a second goal, though they were regularly caught out by the Athletic offside trap.
Iraizoz smothered an opening for Ronaldo but was left helpless from Benzema’s header late in the half, Madrid putting daylight between themselves and the visitors.
Bale was a central figure immediately after the break, being denied a sight of goal by a last-ditch Aymeric Laporte intervention then feeding Benzema, his cross cleared for a corner.
Benzema and Bale combined for Madrid’s third, a one-two springing the Athletic defence and sending the Welshman away to present Ronaldo with an easy finish.
Bale could have been on the score sheet in the next Madrid attack but couldn’t curl his shot on target. Ibai Gomez’s header was more accurate and had to be palmed away by Casillas, Iraizoz doing likewise when Bale tried again with a driven shot on the hour.
Gaps in the Athletic defence became more prevalent as the game went on, Madrid exploiting them with crisp passing and smart movement.
Bale found himself with the freedom of the six yard box and had little trouble putting a header into the net, but the assistant’s flag was rightly raised.
The fourth goal came shortly after following Ronaldo’s show of unselfishness with some half-chances for Ronaldo going begging, Iraizoz keeping the score line somewhat respectable.
Luck was on Ronaldo’s side for once in this match for his hat-trick goal but the scoreline accurately reflected the disparity between the teams on a chastening night for Athletic.
Real Madrid 5-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ronaldo 2, 55, 88, Benzema 41, 70 (RM)
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos (Varane 46), Marcelo; Kroos (Illarra 74), Modric, James; Bale, Benzema (Isco 79), Ronaldo
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; De Marcos, Gupergui, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iturraspe, Mikel Rico; Benat (Ibai 46), Muniain (Etxeita 74), Susaeta (Unai 62); Guillermo
Referee: Jose Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez
