04/28/2008
Athletic Bilbao 'keeper Armando spilled a Robinho shot into the path of Javier Saviola and the Argentine striker tucked away his third goal of the season.
The visitors, who had won seven of their previous eleven games to go ninth in the table in recent weeks, were still playing for a UEFA Cup place and a flicked Joseba Exteberria header from Igor Gabilondo's free kick on the half hour had Iker Casillas at full stretch.
The Real Madrid 'keeper was called upon a number of times in the first half to preserve the home side's lead, most notably after referee David Borbalan awarded Athletic a penalty in the 36th minute for Gabriel Heinze's push on Fernando Llorente.
Joseba Garmendia stepped up to take the spot kick and somehow Casillas threw out his left arm to push the ball over the crossbar - Casillas is already in line to pick up the 'Golden Gloves' award in Spanish football this season - that save will only serve to confirm it.
Wesley Sneijder's curling right foot shot on the hour was just one example of a number of chances created by Schuster's men, but they couldn't find a second goal.
Until Schuster made a double substitution, bringing on Gonzalo Higuain and Arjen Robben in the 72nd minute.
Barely moments later the pair combined to make it 2-0, Robben's crisp finish giving Armando no chance and on 77 minutes Higuain scored on his own to make it 3-0.
Technical data:
3 - Real Madrid: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo; Gago, Guti, Sneijder (Drenthe, m.86); Robben, Robinho (Robben, m.73) and Raúl (Higuaín, m.73).
0 - Athletic: Armando; Iraola, Gurpegui, Amorebieta, Koikili; Susaeta (Murillo, m.79), Javi Martínez, Garmendia, Gabilondo (Aduriz, m.77); Etxeberria (David López, m.64) and Llorente.
Goals: 1-0, m.13: Saviola. 2-0, m.74: Robben. 3-0, m.76: Higuaín.
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