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Real Madrid are back to winning ways after defeating Levante 2-0 on Sunday night. Gareth Bale was able to shut critics up as he finally got on the scoresheet, netting both for his team. Madrid earned the three points on the table and now sit one point behind league leaders, Barcelona.
After nine games without a goal, Bale was able to break the drought early in the first half before grabbing a second before the end of the first half.
On theother hand, it seems that nothing is working well for Cristiano Ronaldo, who had bad luck throughout the match. Before Bale scored the first goal, Ronaldo attempted a bicycle kick that was saved by Levante’s defender. In fact, the second goal was a result of his shot deflecting off Bale’s leg into the net.
Things did not seem to go well for Ronaldo throughout the game. Although he was a pivotal help in both goals, he seemed to react rather childishly after Bale’s goals and did not bother to celebrate with his fellow teammate.
Sergio Ramos and Luka Modrić were both included in the starting lineup, a welcome sight for Los Merengues fans, since Ramos has not seen time since he injured himself back in January and Modrić made his first Liga appearance since November, following a leg injury put him out for the last few months.
The first goal came in the 18 minute when Karim Benzema passed the ball to Ronaldo who bicycle-kicked the ball and saw the ball blocked by defender Ivan Ramis. David Navarro tried to clear the ball with his head, but it landed in front of Bale, who buried the ball past Diego Marino.
Bale made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when Ronaldo went for goal after getting a pass from Dani Carvajal. As Ronaldo shot the ball towards an open net, Bale was there to tap the ball with the inside of his left leg. Ronaldo thought this was his goal, but after the replay was shown, the announcer gave it to Bale as the ball clearly bounced off his foot.
The intensity of the game was brought down in the second half and the hosts were held to a two-goal win. Bale earned the Man of the Match honor for scoring the two goals.
Levante faces Celta Vigo on Saturday while Real Madrid faces Barcelona in the latest edition of El Clasico, and will hope to retake the La Liga lead.