BALE FIRES REAL MADRID TO OPENING WIN

A Gareth Bale brace and a Marco Asensio lob
helped Real Madrid make light work of Real
Sociedad, running out 3-0 winners at Anoeta in
their opening game of the season in La Liga.
Bale was the only member of the renowned ‘BBC’
forward line who was fit enough to play in
Sunday’s game, as Zinedine Zidane’s team
travelled to San Sebastian in the midst of an
injury crisis, with five regular starters unable to
make the squad.

As well as star forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and
Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Keylor Navas and
Pepe were also ruled out, but it didn’t stop
Madrid earning a convincing win at a
notoriously tricky venue.
Bale was picked despite having appeared in just
one friendly in pre-season, but the Welshman got
Madrid off to a flying start, leaping into the air
to powerfully nod home Dani Carvajal’s tempting
cross in only the second minute.
Kiko Casilla had to be quick off his line at the
other end after a short back-pass by Raphael
Varane, hacking the ball to safety under pressure.
Alvaro Morata nearly scored his first goal since
returning to Real Madrid but, after a clever
dribble, his strike was deflected behind for a
corner.
A Toni Kroos effort met the same fate, with
goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli quick to get down to
tip the German’s drilled strike behind.
Real Sociedad had a good opportunity to level on
the half-hour mark, but former Madrid man
Asier Illarramendi opted to pass to Juanmi
instead of shooting when well placed and the ball
didn’t reach his team-mate.
It was an end-to-end affair, with Morata denied
again by Rulli, while youngster Asensio, picked
ahead of James Rodriguez and Isco, continued to
bewilder defenders with his quick feet on his first
start in La Liga for the European champions.
The forward scored Madrid’s second goal in the
40th minute with an effortless lob after he was
sent through on Rulli’s goal by Varane’s pass,
scooping the ball over the stopper with ease.
Morata was seeing a lot of the ball in the second
half but was foiled at every turn, being booked
for diving in the area before his shot was saved
and Kroos cracked the rebound against Rulli’s
crossbar.
The goalkeeper was called into action to tip a
Mateo Kovacic piledriver wide as Madrid
continued to turn the screw, although despite
their dominance they could not stretch their lead
until Bale ran through, rounded Rulli and
squeezed the ball home with the last kick of the
game.
Atletico Madrid entertain promoted Alaves in the
late game on Sunday, while Sporting Gijon
earlier beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1.
Champions Barcelona opened their campaign in
style on Saturday by beating Betis 6-2 with Luis
Suarez scoring a hat-trick and Lionel Messi
netting twice.
Sevilla beat Espanyol 6-4 in an incredible game
with Luciano Vietto scoring twice for the hosts
and fellow summer signings Pablo Sarabia,
Franco Vazquez, Wissam Ben Yedder and Hiroshi
Kiyotake also on target.