Gareth Bale scored on his return to the Real Madrid starting line-up for the first time in a month as the European champions beat Rayo Vallecano 5-1 on Saturday.
Barcelona remain just two points behind the league leaders thanks to two assists from Luis Suarez as they came from behind to snap a two-game losing streak in La Liga with a 2-1 win at Almeria.
Bale took just nine minuters to mark his mark as he slid in to turn home Toni Kroos's low cross before Sergio Ramos's fortunate looping effort doubled Madrid's lead.
An awful attempted back pass from James Rodriguez gave Rayo hope just before half-time as Alberto Bueno reduced the arrears,but Kroos restored the hosts' two-goal advantage with his first goal for the club.
Karim Benzema added a dubious fourth despite being clearly in an offside position before Cristiano Ronaldo registered his 23rd goal of the season thanks to some generous goalkeeping from Cristian Alvarez.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti reserved special praise for the impact Kroos is having in his first season in the Spanish capital.
"Kroos was the best player on the pitch.He scored for the first time and he has surprised me for how consistently he is performing at a very high level."
Barca were bailed out by a superb second-half performance by Suarez after he and Neymar has been left on the bench by boss Luis Enrique.
Yet,despite his team's reaction after the break,Enrique was less than impressed by their display.
"The second half was better for the ambition and attitude," he said."To have a good season, though,you have to win even when you don't play well." AFP
Gareth Bale scored on his return to the Real Madrid starting line-up for the first time in a month as the European champions beat Rayo Vallecano 5-1 on Saturday.
Barcelona remain just two points behind the league leaders thanks to two assists from Luis Suarez as they came from behind to snap a two-game losing streak in La Liga with a 2-1 win at Almeria.
Bale took just nine minuters to mark his mark as he slid in to turn home Toni Kroos's low cross before Sergio Ramos's fortunate looping effort doubled Madrid's lead.
An awful attempted back pass from James Rodriguez gave Rayo hope just before half-time as Alberto Bueno reduced the arrears,but Kroos restored the hosts' two-goal advantage with his first goal for the club.
Karim Benzema added a dubious fourth despite being clearly in an offside position before Cristiano Ronaldo registered his 23rd goal of the season thanks to some generous goalkeeping from Cristian Alvarez.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti reserved special praise for the impact Kroos is having in his first season in the Spanish capital.
"Kroos was the best player on the pitch.He scored for the first time and he has surprised me for how consistently he is performing at a very high level."
Barca were bailed out by a superb second-half performance by Suarez after he and Neymar has been left on the bench by boss Luis Enrique.
Yet,despite his team's reaction after the break,Enrique was less than impressed by their display.
"The second half was better for the ambition and attitude," he said."To have a good season, though,you have to win even when you don't play well." AFP
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
