Real Madrid Vs Athletic Bilbao Goals + Full Highlights Week 12 Liga BBVA 2010-2011

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid ensured they will start next week's showdown with arch-rivals Barcelona in top spot after seeing off battling Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu.

With Barcelona winning 8-0 earlier in the evening Madrid knew they needed a victory to take a one-point lead to the Nou Camp for 'El Clasico', and Jose Mourinho's in-form side made no mistake as they made it seven league wins on the trot.

Ronaldo netted three of the goals - the final one coming from the penalty spot deep into injury-time - while Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Ramos, with another penalty, were also on the scoresheet.

Athletic, who have a miserable record at the Bernabeu, had made it 2-1 just before half-time through star striker Fernando Llorente but they could make no further in-roads as Madrid - for whom Mourinho was serving the second of a two-match touchline ban - completed a deserved, if slightly flattering, victory.

Athletic came into the match having won just 13 times in 79 visits to the Bernabeu down the years, while their past 12 league and cup visits to this ground had ended in defeat.

However, they gave Madrid as good as they got in a closely-fought first half and were somewhat unlucky to be trailing at the break.

Spain forward Llorente, who has been linked with a move to Madrid in recent weeks, was a major thorn in the home side's defence and he almost put Athletic ahead in the second minute.

The powerful striker showed great strength and skill to get through Ricardo Carvalho and Sami Khedira before sliding the ball past Iker Casillas, but Pepe got back to clear off the line.

Madrid survived that let-off and took the lead in the 20th minute when Higuain picked up a pass from Angel Di Maria, shrugged off the challenges of Fernando Amorebieta and Mikel San Jose before slotting past Gorka Iraizoz.

Far from demoralising Athletic though, that goal seemed to further inspire the Basque outfit and they twice came close to an equaliser with Casillas producing brilliant diving saves to deny Markel Susaeta and Llorente.

However, 60 seconds after Casillas kept out Llorente's effort, Madrid raced down the other end and made it 2-0 with a superbly-worked goal through Ronaldo.

Higuain and Ozil were both involved before Ronaldo picked up the German international's lay-off before driving a low shot into the far bottom corner.

Ronaldo and Higuain both missed chances to make it 3-0 before Athletic pulled a goal back in the 40th minute when Llorente slammed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

That breakthrough was no more than Athletic deserved and they nearly made it 2-2 eight minutes into the second half when Susaeta brought a flying save out of Casillas with a 25-yard free-kick.

Athletic would come no closer to drawing level, though, as within two minutes they found themselves 3-1 down.

Di Maria won a penalty after being sent flying by Susaeta and Ramos, who somewhat surprisingly stepped up to take the kick, fired his shot into the top corner to increase Madrid's lead.

Ronaldo made it 4-1 in the 62nd minute with a 35-yard free-kick that Athletic goalkeeper Iraizoz will feel disappointed to have let in.

The Portugal international completed the scoring late on after Athletic had came close to pulling a late goal back when Javi Martinez hit the crossbar from close range.

Esteban Granero was fouled inside the area by Amorebieta and Ronaldo netted a twice-taken penalty to increase his league tally to 14 for the season.