Under-pressure forward Gareth Bale struck twice on Sunday evening to help Real Madrid to a 2-0 victory over Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu, keeping the pressure on leaders Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
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Bale had been goalless for eight games prior to this weekend’s encounter and had been the focus of much criticism from elements of the Real support over recent weeks.
However, the Welshman responded in fine style this time out with a first-half brace and a telling goal-celebration in which he covered his ears and let off steam with a kick at the corner flag.
It was clear from the opening moments that Bale was in the mood, chesting down a long-ball and firing across the face of goal while he later rose highest to head a corner wide of the target.
His first goal came in the scrappy aftermath of an attempted overhead kick from Cristiano Ronaldo, whose strike was cleared off the line. Bale was on-hand to turn the ball home, although the reaction of Ronaldo—still visibly complaining about his cleared effort as his side celebrated—will capture more headlines.
Ronaldo, though, would turn provider once more for Bale’s second effort shortly before half-time as his fierce drive across goal was deflected home by the former Tottenham forward to double the Real advantage.
The win, sealed comfortably in the second-half, sees Los Blancos move to within one point of rivals Barcelona at the summit of La Liga as the title race nears the final 10-match run-in.
Sevilla, meanwhile, moved to within four points of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid in the race for Champions League places thanks to a brace from Colombian Carlos Bacca in a 3-0 victory over Elche.
Bacca, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot, doubled the advantage before the interval before Kevin Gameiro struck late to add a comfortable gloss to the scoreline.
Elsewhere, Malaga moved up to seventh in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Cordoba thanks to goals from Juanmi and Nordin Amrabat, while Almeria held Villarreal to a 0-0 draw in Andalusia.
