Isco, Ronaldo secure 3-1 win for Real at home to Bilbao

MADRID - In-form playmaker Isco struck twice and Cristiano Ronaldo netted his first goal of the season to give a Luka Modric-enthused Real Madrid a 3-1 home succeed over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday.

The comfortable win in an unusual midday kickoff at the Santiago Bernabeu gave Carlo Ancelotti's side a combined share of the lead in the standings with a perfect nine points from 3 games.

It also suggested the Real players have not been sidetracked by the drawn-out saga over the probable arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.

Real Madrid has until Monday to wrap up the purchase of the Wales international, which could set a transfer record of about 100 million euros ($132 million), according to media reports in Britain and Spain.

After a subdued start at the giant, sun-drenched field, Karim Benzema dinked a pass through to Isco and the Spain playmaker, who joined from Malaga in the close season, drilled a shot past Atletico Bilbao goalkeeper Iago Herrerin.

Ronaldo powered home a header moments by halftime for his 202nd goal in 202 official games for Real and his 11th next to Bilbao, putting him on a par with the club's ex-strikers Raul Gonzalez and Hugo Sanchez.

Atletico Bilbao threatened a comeback on a couple of occasions before Isco picked up another assist from Benzema, again whistled by the home crowd after fluffing a number of chances, and the 21-year-old found the net with a inspiring first-time strike.

Ibai Gomez made the scoreline somewhat more respectable for the visitors, who have now conceded 22 goals in their last five league visits to the Bernabeu, when he clipped the ball past Diego Lopez in the 79th minute following neat work on the right from fellow substitute Oscar de Marcos.

"Things are going well for me," Play maker Isco said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.

"We have only now started the season and three wins in three is the exact path to follow to make it a good year for us," he added.

"We desire to keep improving little by little and aim to win all the competitions we are taking part in."

Croatian Luka Modric, who started together with Germany's Sami Khedira in central midfield, had an exceptional game and the crowd chanted his name midway through the second half when he snuffed out a Bilbao attack.

Modric has not always convinced the Real realistic since joining from Spurs but former Real Madrid forward Emilio Butragueno, now a club director, said he had turned in a "very complete performance in every sense."

"He is an intelligent player accomplished of adapting to different positions and functions," Butragueno told Canal Plus.