By DPA
Madrid : A 1-0 win up in Bilbao has given Real Madrid seven points clear at the top of the Spanish Primera Liga.
Real turned in an authoritative display Saturday and should have won by more than one goal, put away by veteran Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The latest win leaves Real with 35 points from 15 games, seven more than Barcelona and Villarreal.
“This was an important win,” said Real defender Sergio Ramos. “They made things quite difficult for us, but we did well to maintain control.”
Real thought they had gone ahead in the 35th minute, but Ramos’ far-post header was disallowed for offside.
The only goal came in the 55th minute. Raul Gonzalez robbed a loose ball down the left and fed Van Nistelrooy. The Dutch striker was given ten metres by the Bilbao defence – and took full advantage by scoring with a fierce right-foot drive, which keeper Daniel Aranzubia could have done better with it.
In the 69th minute Robinho hit Aranzubia’s post with a curling shot.
The closest that dull Bilbao came to equalizing was when Fernando Llorente shot just wide after breaking free down the right.
The defeat leaves the Basques in 12th place.
Saturday’s earlier game was a tedious 0-0 draw between Osasuna and crisis club Valencia.
Valencia have picked up just one point from their last three matches, and the pressure is beginning to build up on new coach Ronald Koeman.
The draw in Pamplona leaves his troubled team sixth with 25 points from 15 games, one point behind fifth-placed Espanyol.