Real Madrid signed off for 2021 with a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao.
It means they lead the LaLiga Santander table by eight points over Sevilla. All the goals were scored in the opening minutes, with Karim Benzema producing a brace and with Oihan Sancet pulling one back to give the home side hope.
Before many fans had even taken their seats, Real Madrid were two goals up as Benzema curled in his first in the fourth minute and as he then finished well too in the seventh minute when a touch from Unai Nunez played him through on goal.
It seemed like Los Blancos might cruise to victory, but Sancet produced a special finish of his own in the 10th minute to make a game of it.
Mikel Balenziaga came close with a volley before the end of the first half, before the Williams brothers Inaki and Nico caused their opponents many problems in the second half. Inaki Williams curled an effort so close to the goal that it brushed the side netting and saw half the stadium cheer momentarily for what they through was the equaliser.
In the final stages, as Athletic Club threw more and more men forward, there were opportunities for Real Madrid to add another on the counter, but Julen Agirrezabala came up big and denied Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and debutant Peter Gonzalez.
That served for little, though, as Athletic couldn't find a goal at the other end of the pitch, with Real Madrid holding on for a hard-fought three points.
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