Madrid: Gareth Bale scored as a much-changed Real Madrid warmed up for Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg at Bayern Munich with a 2-1 win over Leganes, Saturday.
Bale bundled Real into an early lead, before Borja Mayoral took advantage of more sloppy defending to make it two before half time. Serbian Darko Brasanac gave Leganes hope of a comeback, but Real closed out the victory despite struggling in the second half.
Real stay third in the table, one point behind city rivals Atletico, when Barcelona can secure the La Liga title if they avoid defeat at Deportivo La Coruna.
Zidane made sweeping changes to the team which beat Bayern 2-1 in Wednesday’s first leg at the Allianz Arena, with Bale and Karim Benzema returning.
Bale boosted his hopes of a start in the second leg by hooking in a deflected Benzema effort to give Real an eighth-minute lead with his first goal since a double against Las Palmas, March 31.
Leganes had stunned Real with a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu in January to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals, but struggled to make any inroads against their dominant hosts.
Mayoral tapped in from close range after Leganes goalkeeper Pichu Cuellar totally missed a left-wing cross, with offside appeals waved away as defender Unai Bustinza had got a touch to the ball on its way through. It was the 21-year-old Mayoral’s second La Liga goal, having also netted against Real Sociedad in September.
But the away team did pull one back in the 66th minute, as Nordin Amrabat forced his way to the byline and squared for Brasanac to tap in from close range.
Leganes defender Gabriel sent off in injury-time, as Real clung on for the three points after a below-par performance.
agence france-presse
