Madrid: Gareth Bale hit both goals as Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to five points with a 3-0 win over Leganes on Sunday.
Bale signed one of the most lucrative deals in football history on Monday to keep him at the European champions until 2021.
And the Welshman earned his bumper new wage as he struck twice in seven minutes just before half-time, whilst Alvaro Morata added a third 14 minutes from time.
Bale also scored Real’s fastest ever Champions League goal in midweek against Legia Warsaw, but his fine strike in the Polish capital was forgotten as Real blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3.
There was to no such comeback from La Liga newcomers Leganes on their first ever league visit to the Santiago Bernabeu after Bale had awoken Madrid from their slumber in the first 30 minutes.
Bale outsprinted the Leganes defence as he latched onto Isco’s through ball and rounded Jon Ander Serantes before slotting home from a narrow angle.
His second was a scrappier finish as Bale pounced on a loose ball inside the area from Toni Kroos’s free-kick to bundle home from close range.
Serantes prevented Bale completing his hat-trick twice within a minute at the start of the second period.
Bale’s decision to go alone with his first effort infuriated the off-colour Cristiano Ronaldo, who was waiting for the ball to be squared.
Ronaldo endured another frustrating afternoon as he was kept scoreless for the fifth time in eight La Liga appearances this season.
The Portuguese was also booked early on for taking his protests towards referee Miguel Mateu Lahoz too far.
Real received a huge boost ahead of a hugely demanding two-month stretch after the upcoming international break as Luka Modric made his return as a second-half substitute after a month out due to knee surgery.
Morata rounded off a comfortable afternoon for Zinedine Zidane’s men when he collected Kroos’s pass before firing home at the near post.
Madrid even kept their first clean sheet in 11 matches as victory stretches their unbeaten run in all competitions to 28 games.
Earlier on Saturday, Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title hopes suffered another serious setback as two Real Sociedad penalties inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Champions League finalists.
Carlos Vela opened the scoring nine minutes into the second half before handing responsibilities from the spot to Willian Jose to seal Sociedad’s third straight win 15 minutes from time.
A second league defeat in three games means Atletico remain three points behind league leaders Real Madrid, but their city rivals can extend that advantage to six when they host Leganes on Sunday.
Atletico host Real in a rematch of the Champions League final after the international break on November 19.
“There are no excuses. They played better and that’s all,” said Atletico defender Juanfran, who missed the vital penalty in May’s Champions League final.
“We have more time to prepare for an important game, lift our heads and I am sure we will win at home.”
Diego Simeone’s men had sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with an injury time victory over FC Rostov, but suffered a European hangover in an insipid display lacking in energy and invention.
“We don’t look for excuses,” added Simeone.
“The opponents prepared well and played very well in the second-half.”
—AFP
