Gareth Bale made a strong case for a starting spot against Juventus by scoring twice in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory…
Gareth Bale (PHOTO: AFP)
Gareth Bale made a strong case for a starting spot against Juventus by scoring twice in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Las Palmas in a La Liga match, as Cristiano Ronaldo was rested on Saturday.
Bale’s double in Gran Canaria served as a timely reminder to coach Zinedine Zidane, with the trip to Turin for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals to come on Tuesday.
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Karim Benzema had doubled Real’s lead before half-time as Los Blancos moved just one point behind second-placed Atletico. Las Palmas stay 18th, seven points adrift of safety.
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The only worry for Zidane was the sight of Nacho hobbling off in the first half, with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.
“Everything is positive except one thing, the injury of Nacho,” Zidane said.
“He is not happy. It is a concern but hopefully only little and the rest is all good.”
Bale opened the scoring with a trademark run and finish down the left before Benzema converted one penalty and then generously handed over a second, which the Welshman had earned himself.
The question now is whether Zidane was suitably impressed to pick Bale in Italy.
“We will see on Tuesday, I am happy for his performance,” Zidane said.
Girona’s hopes of Europa League qualification took a knock after they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Levante. Athletic Bilbao also drew 1-1 at home to Celta Vigo.
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