Madrid: Gareth Bale responded in style to his critics with a fine finish as Real Madrid got back to winning ways Sunday night with a 3-1 win at Real Sociedad.
Borja Mayoral rewarded a bright start by Real with his first goal for the club before Sociedad’s Kevin Rodrigues scored at both ends to give the visitors a 2-1 half time lead. And Bale secured the three points as he sped past Rodrigues and dinked the ball over Geronimo Rulli for just his second goal of the season on the hour mark. The win took them to within four points of current La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Bale had received stinging criticism from the Spanish press and Real Madrid fans for his underwhelming displays in Ronaldo’s absence in recent weeks as the defending champions dropped points at home to Valencia and Levante.
“It’s great to always score, but the most important thing was to get the three points for the team, get back on track and get back to winning ways,” Bale told Spanish TV station ‘Movistar’.
“I just have to try to keep my head down and keep working hard and that’s all I can do. “I can’t control what goes on, I can only control how hard I work on the pitch. “You go through ups and downs in your career – it’s how you bounce back,” added the Welshman.
Without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, as he completed a five-game ban, and injured Karim Benzema, manager Zinedine Zidane handed 20-year-old Mayoral a shock start up front.
And the Frenchman’s faith was rewarded inside 20 minutes when Mayoral swept home a loose ball with a classy finish from close range.
However, the visitors’ joy lasted just nine minutes as Rodrigues levelled thanks to a blunder from Keylor Navas, who failed to hold on to a weak shot.
However, then a crazy 60 seconds for Rodrigues swung the match back in Madrid’s favour. The left-back was inches away from bagging a second when his looping effort came back off the Real bar.
However, Real Madrid broke straight up the other end and the unfortunate Rodrigues, trying desperately to return to his position turned Mayoral’s cross into his own net.
Bale sealed the points after the break by scoring for the fifth straight match at Anoeta as his pace took him beyond the Sociedad defence before coolly chipping over the advancing Rulli.
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