Bilbao, March 8 (IANS): Spanish football club Athletic Club Bilbao blew the race for the La Liga wide open as they defeated leaders Real Madrid 1-0 at the San Mames Stadium here.

They ended a fantastic week for the club on Saturday and also avenged Real Madrid's apparent decision to refuse to allow the Santiago Bernabeu to be used for the King's Cup final, reported Xinhua.

Anyone looking at the score would see that Aritz Aduriz's spectacular 26th minute header was the difference between the two teams. But that does not tell the full story as Athletic, driven on by 50,000 fans, took Real apart for virtually the entire 90 minutes of the game.

The Basques, despite being without central midfielders Ander Iturraspe and Mikel San Jose, outran and outplayed Real. Coach Carlos Ancelotti's team was a shadow of the side that won over 20 consecutive matches at the end of last year.

The goal came when Aduriz netted his 10th goal of the campaign with a spectacular header in the 26th minute of the game following a swinging cross sent over by Mikel Rico.

Adiriz will grab the headlines, but other Bilbao players, such as youngster Inaki Williams, who was a constant threat down the left wing, and midfielders Benat and Rico, were also outstanding for the home side. Their defence limited Real to just one chance, when winger Gareth Bale almost scored from the halfway line.

Bilbao's win means that if Barcelona are able to win at home to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, the Catalans will take over the leadership of the La Liga. Barcelona entertain Real in the Camp Nou stadium two weeks later.