Football news - Gareth Bale ends league goal drought as Real Madrid climb back into top four
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Updated 09/12/2018 at 18:10 GMT
La Liga, Estadio El Alcoraz - SD Huesca 0 Real Madrid 1 (Bale 8')
Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (C) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish league football match between SD Huesca and Real Madrid CF at the El Alcoraz stadium on December 9, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Gareth Bale’s first-half volley was the difference as Real Madrid survived a Huesca fightback to lift themselves to fourth place in the Liga table.
The Welshman found the back of the net within the opening ten minutes, guiding a side-footed volley past Aleksandar Jovanovic in goals for the hosts following some good play by young full-back Alvaro Odriozola down the right.
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Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (C) celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish league football match between SD Huesca and Real Madrid CF at the El Alcoraz stadium on December 9, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Real Madrid were expected to build on that opener, but they struggled with a strong wind in their face in the second half and were extremely fortunate not to be pegged back when Gerard Melero somehow managed to head wide from about four yards out.
Huesca forced Thibaut Courtois into a number of saves as they searched for an equaliser that would never come. On this basis, La Liga’s bottom side are much better than they have shown so far this season. Real breathed a sigh of relief at the full time whistle.
TALKING POINT
Is Thibaut Courtois finally justifying his summer transfer? For many, Keylor Navas remains the best goalkeeper at Real Madrid. They argue there was no need for £35 million to be spent on Courtois in the summer. But now that he’s at the club, the Belgian is finally starting to justify his price. Courtois pulled off a number of saves to prevent Real Madrid from suffering another humiliating result away to lowly opposition, meaning he has now kept three clean sheets in succession.
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Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois hits the ball with his fist during the Spanish league football match between SD Huesca and Real Madrid CF at the El Alcoraz stadium in Huesca, on December 9, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Bale has come under fire this season. He was expected to step into the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer, but that hasn’t really happened. This, however, was more like it from the Welsh winger. Real were, on the whole, poor and struggled to create much in the final third, but Bale was their most consistent threat and could have finished the match with more than just the single goal.
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Gareth Bale celebrates goal
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Huesca - Jovanovic 6, Miramon 5, Insua 5, Pulido 6, Etxeita 6, Ferreio 8, Gomez 7, Aguilera 5, Rivera 5, Hernandez 6, Avila 6. Subs - Melero 6, Gurler 5, Longo 5.
Real Madrid - Courtois 7, Odriozola 7, Varane 7, Ramos 6, Carvajal 6, Modric 5, Llorente 7, Ceballos 5, Vazquez 5, Bale 8, Benzema 5. Subs - Isco 6, Asensio 5, Valverde 5.
KEY MOMENTS
9’ GOAL! Huesca 0-1 Real Madrid: It took Real Madrid just nine minutes to find the opener and it's Bale! What a finish from the Welshman. Odriozola found him with a deep cross to the back post and Bale guided a side-footed volley into the back of the Huesca net! Fantastic.
17’ Courtois forced into action! That was a fantastic move from Huesca, with Gomez teeing up Avila for the strike. It was a powerful shot, but Courtois makes the diving save to deny him!
46’ How did he miss? That should have been a Huesca equaliser. Melero was presented with a golden opportunity, but from only a matter of yards out he somehow managed to head wide. Should be 1-1.
69’ Just wide! That was very close to a second for Bale and a second for Real Madrid. Bale lobbed his finish over the Huesca goalkeeper, but the ball bounced just wide of the far post.
KEY STATS
This was the first time Real Madrid have kept a clean sheet away from home in La Liga this season, and only their second in 2018.
Gareth Bale ended a drought of 40 shots and 802 minutes without a La Liga goal.
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