VIDEO: Bale stars as Real Madrid turn on the style

13:07 04/12/2013
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  • REAL MADRID 4 (G. Bale 33’, 64’, 89’, K. Benzema 36’) REAL VALLADOLID 0

    Real Madrid turned on the style to cruise to a 4-0 victory over outclassed Real Valladolid at the Bernabeu thanks to a hat-trick for record signing Gareth Bale and another goal from in-form Karim Benzema.

    Although Los Blancos would always expect to beat lightweight opposition at home, the impressive fluency of their performance suggested manager Carlo Ancelotti’s quest to find a winning formula for his new team has been concluded.

    With Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric pulling the strings, midfield creator Isco was a constant menace as he linked with wingers Bale and Angel Di Maria, whose performance down the left ensured the injured Cristiano Ronaldo was not missed.

    Right from the opening whistle, it looked to be just a matter of time until Madrid opened the scoring. The lively Di Maria concluded a fine sweeping move by volleying straight at busy visiting keeper Diego Marino, Benzema curled a right-footed shot narrowly wide and Di Maria had another shot saved by Marino as Valladolid somehow held on.

    The inevitable breakthrough came when Di Maria again found space to drill a fierce cross-shot towards goal and Marino could only parry it straight onto the head of Bale, who scored for the third consecutive game with a simple header.

    Less than three minutes later Bale turned provider, floating a delicious right-wing cross over the Valladolid defence and onto the head of Benzema, who duly obliged with a thumping finish.

    Valladolid had no answer, failing to create any opportunities until shortly before the interval, when the bright Zakarya Bergdich delivered a deep cross which striker Javi Guerra volleyed badly over the bar.

    Modric drilled a low long-range effort narrowly wide as Madrid started the second half in a similar fashion, with Bale seeing a fierce free-kick deflected by the defensive wall as the hosts continued to utterly dominate.

    Ancelotti’s team had a goal wrongly ruled out when Dani Carvajal was incorrectly judged to be offside before delivering a low cross for Benzema to slide home.

    The white tide continued to roll in and the third goal arrived when Marcelo’s low cross was only half-cleared into the path of Bale, who had the simple task of sweeping home a low right-footed shot from 10 yards.

    Bergdich was the only attacking threat for Valladolid and he brought a good save from Diego Lopez with an arrowed strike from 20 yards.

    Madrid’s fifth consecutive league victory never looked in doubt and in the dying stages Bale completed a memorable personal occasion by leading a rapid counter-attack and registering his hat-trick by turning home Marcelo’s low cross.

    MAN OF THE MATCH (Gareth Bale) Real Madrid’s front four were all excellent, with Angel Di Maria’s performance certainly deserving a goal. But the most productive was Bale, who scored his first hattrick in Spain and created the fourth goal with a delightful cross for Karim Benzema. The Welshman continues to grow in stature at the Bernabeu.

    MATCH VERDICT A walk in the park for a Real Madrid team whose early season struggles now seem well and truly behind them. The last few weeks have brought a greater cohesion and they won this one at a canter against opposition who appear destined for a tough fight against relegation.

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