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BILBAO: Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas, left, and Sergio Ramos, fail to block the ball as Athletic Bilbao’s Aritz Aduriz scores during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, at San Mames stadi- um, in Bilbao, northern Spain, yesterday. — AP Casemiro sends Real five points clear

MADRID: Casemiro was Real Madrid’s unlikely games at home in all competitions stretching stunning save from Kepa Arrizabalaga as the once more to save Gareth Bale’s drive from the son, Madrid found a winner from a corner. hero as he hit the winner to open up a five- back to August and started confidently with young goalkeeper leapt low to his left to turn edge of the area. Kroos’s delivery was flicked on by Ronaldo point lead on Barcelona at the top of La Liga Inigo Lekue threatening early down the left. the ball to safety. However, the visitors had to withstand an and midfielder Casemiro was completely with a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao yesterday. His dangerous cross was bundled just wide Sergio Ramos should have continued his aerial bombardment at the start of the second alone inside the six-yard box to slot home Karim Benzema fired the visitors into a half- by Inaki Williams inside the first two minutes. remarkable goalscoring streak when he then half. A mix-up between Keylor Navas and from close range. time lead from Cristiano Ronaldo’s cross. Aritz However, Madrid settled after the first 10 min- headed wide when unmarked from a Toni Ramos nearly saw the latter turn a loose ball Marcelo should have put the game to bed Aduriz briefly levelled for Athletic, but utes and had the ball in the net in their first Kroos free-kick. Madrid finally made the break- into his own net. 18 minutes from time when be blasted over Ronaldo again was involved for the winner on serious attack only to be denied by the offside through on 25 minutes as Casemiro’s ball over The pace of Williams down the right was a from point-blank range after a brilliant team 68 minutes as his flick-on was slotted home by flag. Dani Carvajal timed his run to meet the top for Ronaldo broke Athletic’s offside constant threat for Athletic and he finally got move involving Benzema and Ronaldo. the unmarked Casemiro for just his third goal Benzema’s through ball but he squared to trap and the Portuguese produced an inch- his reward 25 minutes from time when his Ronaldo was surprisingly replaced by Isco of the season. Ronaldo when going for goal would have perfect low cross for Benzema to slot home his cross was headed back across goal by Raul 12 minutes from time, but Zinedine Zidane’s Barcelona can cut the gap back to two been the better option, and the World Player sixth goal in as many games against Athletic. Garcia and nodded in from close range by decision was vindicated as Real held out to points when they face Valencia at the Camp of the Year’s tap-in was ruled out. Six minutes Real continued to threaten on the counter- Aduriz. The lead lasted just three minutes, take a huge step towards a first La Liga title in Nou today. Athletic were undefeated in 19 later Ronaldo was denied again, this time by a attack as Arrizabalaga was called into action though, as for the umpteenth time this sea- five years. — AFP Bournemouth on the rise as Swansea slump

Josh King had scored nine times in his last 10 league games, but the Bournemouth striker nearly found the Bournemouth 2 net at the wrong end when his headed clearance from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick drifted just wide of the far post. Bournemouth’s luck was in and they enjoyed more good fortune to break the deadlock in the 31st minute. Swansea 0 Taking possession 20 yards from goal, Afobe advanced before hitting a low shot that appeared to be going wide before it struck Mawson on the shin and BOURNEMOUTH: Bournemouth bolstered their bid for deflected past wrong-footed goalkeeper Lukasz Premier League survival and pushed Swansea deeper Fabianski. Sigurdsson threatened an equaliser when he into the relegation mire as Benik Afobe inspired a 2-0 almost caught out Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc home win yesterday. with a swerving effort. Eddie Howe’s side took the lead at Dean Court thanks Dan Gosling drew a good stop from Fabianski early in to a first-half own goal from Alfie Mawson, who deflect- the second half and Bournemouth’s pressure was ed in Afobe’s shot. rewarded with a second goal in the 72nd minute. Afobe struck after the interval to ensure the Cherries King slid the ball through to Afobe, who adjusted his enjoyed consecutive Premier League wins for the first body quickly and steered his shot under Fabianski. time since March 2016. Earlier, Sunderland’s hopes of avoiding relegation Bournemouth are now nine points above the relega- suffered another blow in a goalless stalemate with tion zone, while Swansea sit just one place and three Burnley, who picked up only their third away point in points clear of the bottom three following a fourth the Premier League this season. defeat in their last six games. A poor game was short on chances for either side Dragged deeper into trouble by a loss at relegation although Sunderland will rue missing the best two. rivals Hull in their previous match, Swansea arrived on Sebastian Larsson blazed over with the Burnley goal the south coast having conceded 61 goals this season. gaping just after halftime and Fabio Borini was then Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser posed problems for denied in stoppage time by a great save from Tom that leaky Swansea defence early on as he side-footed Heaton. Burnley held on for a point and remain in 12th just wide from the edge of the area, while Swansea spot, while bottom club Sunderland are now seven appealed in vain for a penalty after Marc Pugh blocked points from the safety zone having not won at home BOURNEMOUTH: Swansea City’s Ki Sung-yueng, left, and AFC Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels battle for the ball during the with his arm. since December. —Agencies English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, yesterday. — AP