Cristiano Ronaldo was rested and the supporting cast failed to show up as Real Madrid endured a shock 1-0 defeat away to Espanyol on Tuesday. NaijaBet.com
Gerard Moreno struck in the 94th minute at the RCDE Stadium as Real’s rotated line-up felt the full punishment for a slack and disjointed display.
Bale was certainly not the only Real player out of sorts but the 28-year-old, now back to full fitness, was perhaps under most pressure to stake his claim. NaijaBet.com
After missing with a number of efforts at goal, and receiving a yellow card in the first half, he was finally replaced with nine minutes remaining.
Real, meanwhile, will fall 17 points behind leaders Barcelona if the Catalans overcome Las Palmas on Thursday.
With PSG left praying for a miracle after Neymar was stretchered off wth a foot injury on Sunday, Zinedine Zidane wrapped his own star player up in cotton wool, as Ronaldo was not even included on the bench. NaijaBet.com
Karim Benzema was also rested, allowing Bale his 116th La Liga appearance, drawing him equal with David Beckham.
Bale almost gave the visitors an early lead, reacting first to Achraf Hakimi’s deflected cross but poking his near-post header too close to Diego Lopez. NaijaBet.com
Gerard was the protagonist in both, the forward first failing to capitalise on a skewed Raphael Varane clearance and then doing brilliantly to control a thundering half-volley from Carlos Sanchez, only to see his finish ruled out for offside. NaijaBet.com
Replays suggested Real had been fortunate to escape.
Instead, Espanyol sustained their momentum at the start of the second half, with Keylor Navas able only to watch as Sergi Darder’s header plopped onto the top of the crossbar. NaijaBet.com
Bale cut a figure of increasing frustration. One ballooned shot over from the edge of the area was quickly followed by two scuffed finishes. They were not easy chances but a player of his calibre would have hoped to do better.
Bale trudged off in the 81st minute and Gerard finally got the goal he deserved, catching Sergio Garcia’s cross perfectly with a brilliant shot that sailed past Navas and into the corner. NaijaBet.com
