Source: Daily_Mail
Athletic Bilbao 0 Real Madrid 3: Cristiano Ronaldo scores 39th of the season
Cristiano Ronaldo will go in search of his 40th goal of the season in all competitions on Wednesday night against Tottenham after scoring in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. But his most difficult task could be making the starting line-up as Jose Mourinho rests players just three days before they face Barcelona in La Liga. Pushing for a start: Kaka has returned to formThe Real coach showed off the size, strength in depth and fitness ofhis squad last night by resting half the team who demolished Tottenham4-0 in the first leg and still saw his side win comfortably. Ronaldo came off the bench to score his 28th league goal of thecampaign, leaving him just 10 short of Hugo Sanchez's record haul for aseason of 38. Emmanuel Adebayor, Marcelo, Ricardo Carvalho and Mesut Ozil werealso left out last night, allowing Brazil midfielder Kaka to takecentre stage, scoring twice from the spot before Ronaldo scored thethird. Ominous: Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Real Madrid comfortably beat Athletic BilbaoKaka's return leaves Mourinho with a fully fit squad - even Francestriker Karim Benzema is now available after recovering from a thighstrain. A good night for Mourinho looked like getting even better whenBarcelona fell behind 1-0 to Almeria in their game, played immediatelyafter Madrid's. But Leo Messi equalised with a penalty, Thiago Alcantara headed inthe Argentine's corner and Messi scored again in the last minute asBarca won 3-1. He is top scorer in La Liga, on 29, one ahead ofRonaldo. Tottenham 3 Stoke 2: Crouch scores twice to help banish Madrid nightmareSpurs chief Redknapp backs Bale to land PFA Player of the Year gong Arshavin, Clichy and Bendtner are Gonners as Wenger plans clear-outAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Karim Benzema, Emmanuel Adebayor, Jose Mourinho, Leo Messi, Kaka Places: Barcelona, Madrid, Brazil