MADRID: Athletic Bilbao’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid caused the latter to slip five points adrift of Spanish league leader Barcelona, who beat Sevilla 4-0 thanks to Lionel Messi’s double on Saturday.

Athletic striker Fernando Llorente was free in the box in the third minute to head in a corner that was flicked on by Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra. Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made key saves on Madrid’s big three offseason signings — Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka — including a diving stop on Ronaldo’s injury-time shot. Iraizoz made 12 saves in all as Athletic beat Madrid at San Mames Stadium for the first time since 2004.

Barcelona’s win at the Camp Nou meant the Spanish champions had 46 points to Madrid’s 41 after extending their unbeaten start. Also on Saturday, two early goals gave Osasuna a 2-0 victory over Espanyol to snap a five-game league winless streak.

Barcelona got on the board in the 49th when Sevilla defender Julien Escude redirected Gerard Pique’s shot into his own goal. Pedro Rodriguez doubled the advantage in the 70th, chipping over oncoming goalkeeper Andres Palop after being played into the area by Xavi Hernandez. Messi collected Daniel Alves’ cross inside the area before slotting a low shot into goal in the 85th. The world player of the year completed the rout with his league-leading 14th goal in injury time, the Argentina winger breaking into the area alone before tucking back to beat Palop.

Barcelona, who were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Sevilla on Wednesday, were stronger in the two teams’ third meeting in 11 days as the visitors created little offensively to see their league chances likely end following a fourth straight loss. Sevilla share 30 points with Mallorca and Athletic. Valencia (35) and Deportivo La Coruna (31) are ahead of them, then Barcelona and Madrid.

At Pamplona, Juanfran Torres beat goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez, who was filling in for Carlos Kameni away on African Cup

duty, with a low shot in the fifth minute before Walter Pandiani headed home a cross three

minutes later. Osasuna was reduced to 10 men with Roberto “Ruper” Lopez’s sending off in the 41st. Facundo Roncaglia wrongly joined Lopez in the stands eight minutes later after the referee showed the Espanyol defender a second yellow even though teammate David Garcia was the one who fouled Carlos Aranda. Osasuna improved to 20 points while Espanyol had 19.