Real Madrid 3-0 Legans - BBC Sport

Publish date: 2024-06-19

Gareth Bale celebrated his new contract with two goals as La Liga leaders Real Madrid signed off for the international break with victory over Leganes.

Real were far from convincing against their newly promoted neighbours until Bale latched on to Isco's pass to open the scoring.

The Wales forward got a second on the stroke of half-time after bundling the ball over from close range.

Alvaro Morata added the third after the interval.

Relive the action from the Bernabeu

Real stay top without playing well

Zinedine Zidane's side moved five points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who are in action later on Sunday away to third-placed Sevilla (19:45 GMT).

Yet Real, who blew a 2-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Legia Warsaw in the Champions League in midweek, struggled against their lowly opponents before Bale broke the deadlock seven minutes before half-time.

He raced on to a through ball from Isco that split the visiting defence and rounded goalkeeper Jon Serantes to tuck the ball inside the near post from a tight angle.

Bale then took advantage of poor defending from a free-kick to hit the second. Even then Real looked vulnerable.

It required a finger-tip save by Keylor Navas to deny Alexander Szymanowski before Morata, standing in for the injured Karim Benzema, made it 3-0.

A big plus for Zidane is the return from the bench of midfielder Luka Modric after injury.

The Real manager's options will be boosted further when Brazilian midfielder Casemiro returns from injury in the near future.

He will be needed.

Real's first game after the international break is away at neighbours Atletico Madrid, while the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona is on 3 December.

Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

1Navas

2Carvajal5Varane6Nacho12Marcelo

16Kovacic8Kroos22Isco

11Bale21Morata7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

Leganés

Formation 4-3-3

13Serantes Simón

3Bustinza Martínez5Mantovani18Insúa15Rico Salguero

19López Cabrera6Martín-Romo García-Adamez21Pérez del Mármol

7Machís8Appelt Pires11Szymanowski

Substitutes

Referee:Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz

Attendance:70,007

Match Stats

Live Text

  • Match ends, Real Madrid 3, Leganés 0.

  • Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Leganés 0.

  • Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.

  • Víctor Díaz (Leganés) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  • Foul by Víctor Díaz (Leganés).

  • Offside, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez tries a through ball, but James Rodríguez is caught offside.

  • Attempt missed. James Rodríguez (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.

  • Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  • Foul by Víctor Díaz (Leganés).

  • Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).

  • Diego Rico (Leganés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  • Delay in match Omar Ramos (Leganés) because of an injury.

  • Foul by Marcelo (Real Madrid).

  • Omar Ramos (Leganés) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  • Omar Ramos (Leganés) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  • Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  • Foul by Omar Ramos (Leganés).

  • Substitution, Leganés. Víctor Díaz replaces Martín Mantovani.

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