Madrid embraces Bale

MADRID. — What a difference a 7-3 win makes; Gareth Bale woke up to headlines calling him Real Madrid’s cannon yesterday morning after his decisive part in their huge home win. “Ancelotti put him on the right after the failed experiment of playing him as a No 9” said Marca, “and he finally showed his enormous quality and the cannon that he has in his left foot.”

Real Madrid supporters were made to wait almost two months last summer for his signing to conclude and it seemed they would have to wait as long again for fitness and form to show itself.

But up against recently called up Spain full back Alberto Moreno he looked every inch the €100million (£86million) man.
“At last a spectacular performance” added Marca and Diario AS also labelled him the cannon and said: “The wait was worth it, last night he played like a Ballon d’Or candidate. It gave Bale man of the match for his part in the extraordinary game.

Bale said: “I am happy to have played a full game, and to have done it in such a crazy match. I feel really good. But I also know that I can still improve. I will keep working hard and I know I will soon be at my best.”

Bale’s performance even overshadowed another superhuman 90 minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo who with his hat-trick now has 157 goals in 146 La Liga games, overtaking the legendary Ferenc Puskas, who managed the same feat in 180 matches.
He is now the fifth highest league scorer in Real Madrid’s history.

You have to go back 46 years for the last 10-goal game at the Bernabeu when Madrid beat Real Sociedad 9-1 in 1967.
Bale was also asked about a second half penalty claim by Spanish television when a nudge from Moreno sent him over Fernando Navarro’s outstretched leg. ‘I felt a touch’ he said.

When the Canal+ reporter said: “But there was not touch,’ he said. “Well I felt a touch. I also saw the outstretched leg and as always, you try to avoid the contract in the area.”

Replays show though there had been no contact from Navarro’s lunging tackle there was a hand into the back from Moreno.
Bale added: “It was a great game and a great atmosphere. We played very well and we got a lot of goals but the important thing is to have got the three points and we have scored many goals which is very positive for us.

“The downside has been that we have received several goals, but we were good, it gives us confidence.
“We have a lot of confidence and hopefully we can keep winning and producing performances like tonight.”
Bale scored his first home goal on 13 minutes cutting in from the right and hammering Karim Benzema’s low cross into the top corner.
Ten minutes later, he doubled his tally with a free-kick that hit beleaguered full back Moreno’s hand and deflected past Sevilla goalkeeper Beto.

Moreno couldn’t handle Bale and Sevilla could not handle Madrid.
In the 31st minute, Navarro brought down Isco and Ronaldo scored from the spot.
Real relaxed towards the end of the first half and Sevilla pulled two goals back, with Ivan Rakitic scoring on 38 minutes from the spot after Vitolo was fouled and Carlos Bacca adding a second five minutes before the break.

But nothing could take the shine off an outstanding first half from Bale.
Sevilla started the second period as they finished the first and if Diego Lopez had not saved from Jairo, the game may have taken a different turn.

But after Jairo saw his shot saved at point-blank range by the Madrid keeper, the home side went down the other end and scored.
Ronaldo played in Bale and he crossed for Benzema, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Bale then glided past Moreno and crossed for Ronaldo to score Madrid’s fifth on the hour.

The 60-minute mark has often been time for Bale’s number to come up this season, but there was no chance of Ancelotti denying him the opportunity to play his first full match.

And he almost won a penalty when Moreno gave him a nudge in the back inside the area and he tumbled over Fernando Navarro’s outstretched leg.

Rakitic pulled another goal back for Sevilla on 63 minutes as they refused to surrender.
Xabi Alonso came on shortly after to add some much needed calm and get his first minutes on the pitch after a five-month injury lay-off.
Ronaldo scored a deflected sixth goal in the 71st minute and then conceded a harsh penalty for a challenge on Diogo Figueiras, but Rakitic blasted the penalty over.

There was huge applause for another lung-busting run from Bale in the 77th minute and two minutes later Benzema headed in a Marcelo cross for goal No 10 of the night. —Mailonline.