* Benzema gave a good start * Eraso and Merino's joint efforts for Bilbao go in vain *
A scrappy late finish by substitute Alvaro Morata earned Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao and sent Zinedine Zidane's side to the top of La Liga on Sunday.
The former Juventus striker bundled the ball into the net in the 83rd minute after Real had squandered several chances to retake the lead following Sabin Merino's equaliser for Athletic that cancelled out Karim Benzema's first-half opener.
Benzema knocked the ball through the legs of Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz to put Real ahead in the seventh minute after an impressive run and cut-back from Isco.
Athletic hit back later in the half when Javier Eraso pounced on indecisive Real defending to win the ball back in the box, quickly squaring for Merino to ram the ball home.
Inaki Williams skied a great chance to put Athletic ahead at the start of the second half although Real did most of the attacking after the break, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Mateo Kovacic all going close.
The European champions found their winner thanks to the persistance of Morata, who followed up after his shot was repelled by Iraizoz to give Real a third straight win in all competitions.
Real Madrid lead the table on 21 points, while Sevilla are second on 20 after Steven Nzonzi's second-half strike gave them a 1-0 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Diego Simeone's side, who slid to fifth on 18.
Former Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City midfielder Nzonzi skipped past Atletico's backline to latch onto a through ball from Atletico loanee Luciano Vietto to score in the 73rd minute and seal Sevilla's first win over Atletico in over six years.
Atletico and Spain midfielder Koke was dismissed for a second booking in the 77th minute. The visiting side almost snatched a late equaliser but defender Diego Godin's header went straight towards Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico.
"I'm proud of the team, we had a lot of opportunities and the performance makes me very happy about the path we are on," said Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli.
"Nzonzi is not just here to put the brakes on the opposition but to create chances too as he did today. Vietto is contributing a lot of assists and we saw his contribution with the goal. I'm delighted with them both."
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Elsewhere an injury-time strike from Cedric Bakambu gave Villarreal a 2-1 win at home to Las Palmas which put them fourth, level on 19 points with champions Barcelona, who are third.
Kevin-Prince Boateng finished a sensational team move with a volley to give the visitors the lead in the first half but Italian forward Nicola Sansone levelled from the spot in the 64th, before Bakambu slammed in the winner in the 91st.
Earlier, Celta Vigo beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-1 in a local derby. Captain Hugo Mallo put Celta ahead in the 32nd minute only for Raul Albentosa to reply in the 37th.
Iago Aspas converted a penalty to restore Celta's lead on the hour mark and hit the final goal after standout player Fabian Orellana had struck the third.
Also on Sunday, Malaga beat Leganes 4-0 to go tenth.
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 "Football, Real Madrid, Alvaro Morata, Karim Benzema, Athletic Bilbao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Zinedine Zidane,")
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