Gareth Bale returned to action in superb style on Saturday, scoring after just seven minutes to send Real Madrid on their way to an action-packed 4-2 victory over Villarreal at the Bernabeu.
The Welshman had been out of action for two weeks but marked his return in some style, also playing a big role in his team’s second goal with an assist for Karim Benzema.
Villarreal pulled one back through Mario, and even when Jese Rodriguez continued his brilliant form with another well-taken goal the visitors refused to lie down, again making it close through Giovani Dos Santos. But Benzema added his second of the night and Madrid secured their 14th consecutive home win.
Bale notched the early opener when he took advantage of hesitation by visiting defender Jose Antonio Dorado to steal possession and burst into the penalty area before lifting a delicate chip over advancing Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo.
Villarreal could have levelled almost immediately when Dos Santos found Jonathan Pereira, who fired high from a good position. The hosts then suffered a setback when Brazilian defender Marcelo limped off with an injury, but they soon moved two ahead when Bale advanced down the right wing and clipped a cross to the near post, where Benzema arrived to steer home his 12th league goal of the season.
Bale then threatened with a long-range effort, but Villarreal were far from finished and gave themselves hope when Mario – who has been tipped for a Spain call-up – received a pass from Javier Aquino, raced into the box and blasted a superb half-volley into the top left corner for the first goal conceded by Madrid at the Bernabeu since November.
Angel Di Maria nearly restored the two-goal lead before half-time with a sweetly struck long-range volley which Asenjo did well to parry over the bar.
Madrid moved onto their third left-back of the night when Alvaro Arbeloa replaced the injured Fabio Coentrao during the break, and they soon came close down the other flank when Bale released Dani Carvajal, who dragged a low cross-shot narrowly wide.
Bale then started another move which ended with Benzema being denied a penalty as he appeared to be tripped by Dorado when he attempted to reach a low cross from Jese.
Villarreal were enjoying their fair share of the attacking play and the game was still in the balance when Di Maria slid a pass into the path of Jese, who took a perfect first touch before cleverly sliding a deft finish past the advancing Asenjo for a wonderful goal – his fourth in successive games.
Dos Santos promptly pulled it back to 3-2 with a superb long-range left-footed free-kick, before Arbeloa had a fierce 20-yard strike deflected wide as the action continued to flow.
Benzema finally made the game safe with his second goal of the night, finishing a rapid counter- attack by firing Jese’s square pass into the bottom left corner, and Villarreal’s threat was finally blunted as the hosts played out the remaining time without trouble.
The win takes Madrid, temporarily at least, three points clear of third-placed Barcelona.
