Madrid: Gareth Bale came off the bench to score a controversial winning penalty against Levante here, Sunday but his refusal to celebrate suggested all may not be well again at Real Madrid.
Bale’s spot-kick earned Madrid a battling and, in truth, undeserved 2-1 victory at the City of Valencia Stadium where referee Ignacio Iglesias failed to reverse his decision, despite VAR exposing a theatrical dive from Casemiro.
The absence of any delight from a stony-faced Bale was telling, as he turned and brushed off team-mates’ attempts to congratulate him.
“The players can celebrate goals how they want, as long as we win,” coach Santiago Solari said.
This was Bale’s sixth game on the bench in the eight matches since he returned from injury and it remains to be seen if his cameo will be enough to win a start against Barcelona on Wednesday, in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey.
“He looked thrilled in the dressing room because he scored,” added Solari. “I loved how he came into the game, the anger he played with helped, and he gave us the victory, he gave us hard work.”
Bale replaced Karim Benzema in the 74th minute, after the Frenchman had scored his own penalty in the first half before Roger Marti pulled Levante level.
Real have been among the most vocal critics of the technology in La Liga this season but Levante were the ones hard done by this time.
Cheick Doucoure’s swinging right foot was wild but there was no contact to merit the leap from Casemiro. Iglesias reviewed but retained his decision.
Levante had been the better side and found an equaliser just before the hour, Luis Morales squaring for Roger, who beat Nacho to the ball and expertly angled a finish into the far corner.
Bale came on for Benzema and was soon called into action as Doucoure swung and missed, prompting Casemiro to tumble. Bale slid the ball into the corner.
Nacho was sent off and so was Levante’s Ruben Rochina on the bench, punished for protesting.
PTI
