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Bale celebrates his goalscoring return.
back with a bang

Wales star Bale marks Real Madrid comeback with a goal after 3-month lay-off

With five weeks to the World Cup qualifier against Ireland, the 27-year-old came off the bench to score in a 2-0 win over Espanyol today.

GARETH BALES MADE an instant impact on his return from injury as Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points with a 2-0 win over Espanyol.

Bale had been sidelined three months and on his return took just 13 minutes to score as he swept home into the far corner after coming on as second-half substitute in a much changed Real line up.

Alvaro Morata opened the scoring of an otherwise uneventful contest when he bulleted home Isco’s cross 12 minutes before half-time.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane made seven changes to the side that started Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League last 16, first leg win with difficult La Liga trips to Valencia and Villarreal to come in the next week in mind.

Morata was one those handed a rare chance to start up front with Karim Benzema left out of the squad altogether.

The Spanish international hadn’t started any of Real’s previous five league games, but made his case for more minutes as he powered home Isco’s fine in-swinging cross for his 11th goal of the season.

Morata just failed to get on the end of a tantalising Cristiano Ronaldo cross and Ronaldo also had a goal ruled out for offside as Real bossed a first-half short on clear-cut chances.

Ronaldo should have made the game safe when he headed over from close range midway through the second-half.

Bale’s much-anticipated return since injuring ankle ligaments away at Sporting Lisbon on November 22 came 20 minutes from time when he replaced Morata.

And the Welshman showed the home fans what they have been missing for the past three months as he finished off a lightning quick Real counter-attack by firing into the far corner.

GOLAZO HD / YouTube

- © AFP, 2017

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