Gareth Bale endured a crazy evening as he netted a brace and was later sent off as Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Villarreal on Sunday evening
Match Report
It finishes all square in LaLiga as Gareth Bale earns Real Madrid a well-earned point against a spirited Villarreal with two goals - and gets himself sent off for good measure too. The Welshman cancelled out both of the hosts' goals with an early tap-in and a thunderous finish respectively, and then earned himself a ban late on with some madcap tackling.
It's a fair result for two entertaining sides, but both may rue their chances.
Match Events
6' CHANCE! Jovic's header over the bar
Albiol with the clearance! Bale, operating out wide tonight, whips a cross into the box probing for Benzema but the defender nudges it away. The visitors get a corner and Jovic nodes it high to the left and over the crossbar.
12' GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Real Madrid (Moreno)
Gerard Moreno with the opener! Another counter from the hosts sees the striker feed Ekambi into the box. The latter sees his shot blocked but the ball falls kindly back to his team-mate who squeaks it under the keeper.
32' CLOSE! Casemiro's header inches wide
Fernandez, it must be said, hasn't looked the safest pair of hands at the back, and he completely misses a cross into his box with flailing arms. The Madrid man can only skim the wrong side of the woodwork with his header though.
45' GOAL! Villarreal 1-1 Real Madrid (Bale)
It's Bale who ties the scores, with a simple tap-in following a neatly executed one-two on the right between Carvajal and Jovic, with the Welshman netting one of his easier finishes.
74' GOAL! Villarreal 2-1 Real Madrid (Gomez)
Moi Gomez gives the hosts the lead back! It's almost out of nowhere, but the substitutes have made an instant impact. Bacca crashes a shot in that is deflected out to Ontiveros who, rather than shoot himself, flicks it across for the winger to tap in.
86' GOAL! Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid (Bale)
The Welshman is having a brilliant night as he races onto a crossfield ball from Modric on the right of the box, steps back inside upon himself and buries it in the back of the net with a low, powerful finish. It's a rocket of an equaliser.
93' Red Card! Bale sent off
And a second! Bale now commits to an awful challenge, in opposition territory no less, and Madrid are down a man. Two goals and an early bath!