Cristiano, James and Kroos keep the 'Zidane effect' rolling

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With Marcelo and Bale still sidelined, Zidane decided to rest Isco and give run-outs to Kovacic and Danilo.

Visitors Athletic Club, without a win at the Bernabéu in 10 years, went 4-3-3 with Lekue, Aduriz and Sabin Merino up front and Iker Muniain on the bench.

Cordial pre-match handshakes between the two coaches, Valverde and Zidane.

Giant leap. Cristiano gets himself in the mood.

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Dream start. Madrid were in front within two minutes of kick-off. Cristiano firing in against one of his favourite victims.

His opener was his 15th in 13 league games against Athletic.

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The leads lasted just a few minutes, Eraso pounced on Varane's misjudged back pass to level it up on nine minutes.

Eraso wheels away.

Kovacic impressed on his first game back.

James Rodríguez restored Madrid's lead with a typical, self-styled 'golazo' just after the half hour.

Toni Kroos made it 3-1, shooting on the turn, just moments before the half-time whistle.

Zidane gestures to his players from the technical area.

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Cristiano grabbed his second of the game with four minutes to go. Elustondo pulled one back for the visitors as it finished 4-2.

Captain Sergio Ramos congratulates Cristiano, who is LaLiga's top scorer on 21 goals.