Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Real Madrid: Ronaldo sees red as Galacticos are held at San Mames

Cristiano Ronaldo was controversially sent off as 10-man Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday at San Mames.
The forward was sent off for reacting to a shove by Carlos Gurpegi and then a confrontation with Ander Iturraspe in the 75th minute, although he appeared to be more sinned against than sinner.
Only a minute earlier Athletic had scored a brilliant equaliser through substitute Ibai with only his second touch after coming on, firing in a bouncing ball from the edge of the area. 

 dailymail

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Shock: Players react as Ronaldo (second right) is sent off for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao

Match Facts

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, De Marcos (Iraola 59'), Balenziaga, Rico Moreno (Etxebarria Urkiaga 87'), Gurpegi, Laporte, Susaeta, Iturraspe, Aduriz, Herrera Agüera, Muniain (Gómez 73')

Subs not used: San Jose, Sola Clemente, Herrerín Buisán, Ekiza

Booked: Iturraspe

Goal: Gomez 73'

Real Madrid: Lopez, Carvajal (Varane 90'), Marcelo, Alonso, Pepe, Ramos, Modric, Di María, Benzema (Morata 87'), Jese (Illarramendi  83'), Ronaldo

Subs not used: Casillas, Fabio Coentrao, Arbeloa, Isco

Booked: Alonso

Sent off: Ronaldo

Goal: Jese 65'

Ref: Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez

Att: 47,000

Madrid held on for a point, having gone ahead after 65 minutes through striker Jese on his first league start, but the loss of Ronaldo now through suspension, for a possible three games, could well have an impact in the Primera Division title race.

These two dropped points left them three points behind city rivals Atletico and level with Barcelona.

After a bright opening from Madrid, Athletic wasted two golden chances to take a first-half lead.

First Aritz Aduriz, making a run inside from the right, raced on to a through-ball and poked it past a defender to give himself a clear sight of goal - but could only bend his left-footed shot wide of the left post.

Iker Muniain missed an even better opening shortly afterwards. An expertly-measured low ball in from the right found him at the back post, but the forward appeared to be in two minds over whether to take a touch or shoot first time and only succeeded in knocking the ball behind for a goal-kick.

Madrid's big guns were struggling to get into the match, with Ronaldo largely anonymous in the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors, missing world record signing Gareth Bale through injury, started with far more urgency after the break, though, Luka Modric bringing a diving save out of Gorka Iraizoz with a curling shot from the right.

Karim Benzema then fired in an effort which Iraizoz parried as Madrid upped the tempo.

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Boiling point: Ronaldo (centre) argues with Iturraspe (right) during the La Liga clash

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Angry: Ronaldo (left) makes contact with Iturraspe during the second half

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Lead: Real Madrid's Jese celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal against Athletic

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Joy: Real Madrid's players celebrate after scoring their team scored the opener

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Not his day: Ronaldo (right) looks frustrated next to Mikel Rico of Athletic Club during the La Liga match

And the Frenchman was involved as Madrid took the lead after 65 minutes, playing Ronaldo in down the left of the area, and the Portugal forward laid the ball across the goal for Jese, sliding in, to stab it home.

Athletic brought on Ibai for Muniain after 73 minutes and the new man made an instant impact with a superb goal less than a minute later.

With his side having a free-kick as he came on, Ibai lofted the set-piece into the area. It was headed clear, but he met the loose bouncing ball on the edge of the area with a stunning strike which flew in off the far post.

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Level: Athletic Bilbao's forward Ibai Gomez (right) celebrates his equalising goal against Madrid

Atletico Madrid 4-0 Real Sociedad

Atletico Madrid went top of the Primera Division for the first time since 1996 after recording a resounding 4-0 victory against Real Sociedad at the Vicente Calderon, while Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for city rivals Real.

In a fitting way for the club to pay tribute to club legend Luis Aragones, who passed away a day earlier, David Villa opened the scoring late in the first half and then dedicated his goal to the late coach, with whom he won Euro 2008 with Spain.

Diego Costa settled Atletico's nerves by scoring the second goal with 18 minutes remaining, and then Joao Miranda and substitute Diego Ribas each scored later on to round off an emotional night.

And things got worse for Madrid as Ronaldo saw red after reacting to a shove by Gurpegi and then clashing with Iturraspe, although he could count himself hard done by.

Ronaldo was pushed by Gurpegi after appealing for a handball in the area and responded by brushing his hand into the Athletic man's face.

Gurpegi tumbled to the turf in an apparent attempt to get his opponent sent off and Ronaldo was confronted by Iturraspe, who clearly pushed his head into the Madrid player's face. 

Ronaldo left his head there and then raised his hand to lightly push Iturraspe away, but his actions were hardly aggressive.

But, as the melee died down, Iturraspe was shown a yellow and Ronaldo a seemingly harsh red.
Ibai then brought a fine save out of Diego Lopez, who also kept out a powerful Aduriz header, but Athletic were unable to find a winner against the 10 men. 

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Battle: Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera (left) duels for the ball in front Real Madrid's Daniel Carvaja