Gareth Bale hits brace as Real Madrid ease past Las Palmas

Gareth Bale bagged a brace as Real Madrid claimed a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

Zinedine Zidane made a number of changes to his team with next week’s Champions League last 16 clash against Juventus in mind, with Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo all left out of the lineup. The changes weren’t enough to open the door for Las Palmas, though.

Real Madrid took the lead after 26 minutes when Luka Modric picked out the run of Bale from deep, with the Welshman getting in behind the opposition defence to smash a finish into the far corner of the net.

Karim Benzema doubled his side’s advantage before the half time interval, converting from the spot after Lucas Vazquez was felled inside the box. The award of the penalty looked rather soft, upsetting the locals, but the Frenchman made no mistake in sweeping home the finish.

Bale added a third once again from the penalty spot just minutes into the second half to give Real Madrid an unassailable lead. From there, the visitors coasted to three points, providing them with positive preparation ahead of the season-defining match in Turin.

There was an element of mystery around the first half substitution of Nacho Fernandez. At first sight, the defender didn’t appear to have suffered an injury, but took his seat on the bench distraught. It soon transpired that he had sustained a hamstring injury. So how worried should Real Madrid be about this? Nacho has become a dependable first team figure for them this season. Will they miss him against Juventus?

A certain trend has emerged this season. When Ronaldo has been missing, Bale has stepped up. The Welshman seems more sure of himself whenever his Portuguese teammate is missing, taking on the attacking burden in his absence. That was the case in Gran Canaria, scoring twice as Real Madrid strolled to a convincing victory. Speculation around Bale’s future continues to swirl, but on this showing he still has plenty to offer.

Las Palmas - Chichizola 7, Macedo 5, Navarro 4, Galvez 5, Aguirregaray 5, Vicente 6, Castellano 5, Jairo 5, Momo 6, Halilovic 7, Calleri 7. Subs - Jairo 5, Ezekiel 5, Exposito 5.

Real Madrid - Navas 6, Nacho 4, Varane 5, Vallejo 7, Theo 7, Casemiro 7, Modric 8, Vazquez 6, Asensio 6, Bale 8, Benzema 7. Subs - Kovacic 5, Llorente 5, Achraf 7.

24’ BIG CHANCE! That should have been the opener for Real Madrid. Bale plays a wonderful in behind for Asensio, but Chichizola makes the save, tipping the effort around the post.

26’ GOAL! Las Palmas 0-1 Real Madrid: Bale has given Real Madrid the lead! The Welshman beat the Las Palmas offside trap, getting on the end of a pass from deep and smashing home a finish from a tight angle past Chichizola. 1-0 to the visitors.

31’ NACHO OFF! This is a surprise. Nacho is going to have to come off for Real Madrid here. He doesn’t look to be carrying a serious injury, so is Zidane just playing it safe? The defender looks distraught on the bench. Very strange.

37’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Calleri sticks out a foot and kicks Vazquez on the back of the calf inside the box.

38’ GOAL! Las Palmas 0-2 Real Madrid: Real Madrid have doubled their advantage! Benzema steps up to the 12-yard mark and finds the bottom corner of the net with a powerful, low finish. The French striker really needed that goal!

49’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Bale is felled inside the penalty box and the referee points to the spot.

51’ GOAL! Las Palmas 0-3 Real Madrid: The Welshman steps up to the 12 yard mark and sends his shot down the middle. Chichizola didn't read it and dives out of the way. Real Madrid have all but secured three points from this match.

61’ SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOUR! Benzema probably should have taken on the shot himself. He was through, but played the pass for Bale. The angle was too tight for him and the shot was cleared off the line.

69’ BENZEMA SHOULD SCORE! How did the Frenchman spurn that opportunity? He was played the ball about five yards out, but Chichizola somehow managed to make the save.

80’ BALE WAS THROUGH! That probably should have been the Welshman's hat trick. He was played through, but the Las Palmas defence got back in time to smother his effort.

Gareth Bale has scored 10 goals in all competitions in 2018, his best record over the first three months of any calendar year since he joined Real Madrid.

Real Madrid have scored 77 goals from the penalty spot in the last decade, the most of any club in Europe’s top five leagues.