Los Blancos were looking to bounce back from another defeat in Turin against a Juventus side, which is fast becoming a ‘bogey’ team for Bernd Schuster’s side. Atletico Bilbao arrived to face to team with a point to prove. All eyes were on Raul, who was only seven goals behind the record of the great Alfredo Di Stefano, yet the captain was anonymous when on the ball and also off it. It was left to the erratic Gonzalo Higuain to step up and the Argentine definitely did exactly that.

The former River Plate striker had experience in coming up with important goals, having scored the title-winning goal last season. He had the ball in the net early on, but was wrongly given offside. Naturally Madridistas will look to the fact that the referee is from Barcelona. Yet, it was Wesley Sneijder, who showed intent, after spotting the keeper off his line, he shot from inside his own half, with the ball landing narrowly wide of the goal. The Dutchman then scored the first goal of the game after receiving a fine pass from Gabriel Heinze through the Bilbao defence, allowing him to swivel and fire across the ’keeper. It seemed for a moment the home side were set to overrun the side from the Basque country.

Gonzalo Higuain did get his first goal of the game, after some wonderful play involving Dutchmen Sneijder and summer signing Rafael Van Der Vaart, who rolled a back-heeled pass into the path of the Argentinean striker, who slotted home with confidence. It may have turned into a rout, had Sneijder’s second effort not cannoned off the base of the near post. Yet Atletico turned the game around, exploiting the lack of protection presented to Fernando Gago, by Van Der Vaart and Sneijder. The duo were accustomed to playing in very attacking positions, often abandoning their defensive duties and exposing the frailties in the Madrid back line.

This was clear as Exteberria was played onside and beat Casillas with ease at the near post. The Madrid keeper should have stood up longer at the near post, but went down with ease. The wily Etxeberria, as a gesture of good-will, will not receive a wage for next year at the club, showed his guile to bring back his side into the game. In first half injury time, centre back Iraola scored a penalty, his second of the season, sending Casillas the wrong way. It was a contentious decision, as Heinze was harshly adjudged to have fouled his man with a flailing arm, despite there being minimal contact.

The Argentineans Heinze and Higuain almost reinstated the lead, with both hitting the bar within a matter of minutes. Yet it was the latter that scored the winner, after being played in by Gago, he coolly slotted home past Moreno to become Real’s top goal scorer this season. The game was practically over when Amorebieta was sent off for a tackle from behind. Yet like Villarreal, Real relaxed and allowed Fernando Llorente to hit the post from distance. Real Madrid did have chances to extend their lead at the end but were unable to do so.

Real Madrid 3-2 Atletico Bilbao

With these three points, the Spanish champions moved level on 19 points with Barcelona, only a point behind Valencia who drew 1-1 away at Recreativo. Barcelona made it 9 consecutive wins in all competitions after thrashing Almeria 5-0 at home. The Catalans made their customary high-tempo start, similar to against Atletico Madrid before the international break and Basel in midweek. Samuel Eto’o scored a hat-trick, and moved to 9 goals this season, alongside Euro 2008 hero David Villa. Elsewhere