Real Madrid 2 Malaga 0: Bale wins late penalty on return from injury to seal win

Gareth Bale continued with his own personal ‘operation Clasico’ comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu playing 14 minutes in Real Madrid’s win over Malaga. 

He came on in the 76th minute with Real Madrid 1-0 up and helped Carlo Ancelotti’s team to the win earning the penalty that Cristiano Ronaldo dispatched to the double home side’s lead. 

It wasn’t the clearest penalty of Bale’s career. 

He appeared to have a muscled off the attentions of Malaga defender Weligton Oliveira after a bursting run, only to then lose his footing in the box. But it capped a solid cameo performance.

Cameo: Gareth Bale was tripped in the box by Weligton late on as Real Madrid edged out Malaga on Saturday

Match facts

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Khedira, Illarmendi, Di Maria (Jese 83), Isco (Modric 74), Ronaldo; Morata (Bale 76)

Subs not used: Casillas, Casemiro, Arbeloa, Nacho
Booked: Carvajal
Goals: Di Maria, 47, Ronaldo 90 (pen)

Malaga: Cabellero; Gamez, Sanchez, Weligton, Antunes (Darder 78); Portillo (Santa Cruz 78), Camacho, Tissone, Eliseu; Samuel (Anderson 72), El Hamdaoui
Subs not used: Kameni, Morales, Duda, Chen
Booked: Antunes, Eliseu, Sanchez, Weligton

If Bale’s return to full match fitness continues to go to plan he will be given a full half in Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Juventus before starting against Barcelona next Saturday. 

Cristiano Ronaldo had the first chance in the victory over Malaga hitting the bar from distance before young striker Alvaro Morata, in the side for the injured Karim Benzema, had the ball in the net with a diving header from a Dani Carvajal cross but the flag was raised for off-side. 

Full-back Carvajal then raced away and fed Ronaldo whose shot was turned away by Willy Caballero.

The Malaga goalkeeper had admitted before the game that there had been contact with Manchester City, or at least with Manuel Pellegrini, before the season started.

The Argentine keeper remains on the City boss’ radar and his performance at the Santiago Bernabeu showed why.

In form: Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero (left) denied Real Madrid time and time again

He made another fine stop from close range with an outstretched hand that denied Morata. 

Madrid’s frustration led to Ancelotti sending Bale to warm-up as Caballero continued to limit them to hurried efforts, many from distance, that the Malaga keeper was able to keep out.

But just four minutes into the second half Caballero was beaten and it was that man Di Maria raging against his inevitable relegation to the bench when Bale is fit to start games who got the goal. 

He scored his third goal in two games with a cross shot that went beyond Ronaldo in the area and past Caballero.

In front: Real Madrid celebrate after taking the lead against Malaga thanks to Angel Di Maria's goal

Di Maria then jinked inside the area and set-up Isco for what should have been 2-0 but the midfielder failed to find the target against his old club. 
Bale warmed up against on the hour as Di Maria tired.

Caballero then palmed away another Ronaldo effort from close range although the Portuguese had been flagged off-side. The Argentine keeper foiled Ronaldo again this time with his feet moments later as Real pushed for the second. 

With 20 minute left Real Madrid did bring on a former but Tottenham player but it was Luka Modric not Bale.

Return: Bale started on the bench but made his comeback from injury late in the second half of Madrid's win

Ronaldo struck a free-kick from the edge of the area but Caballero dived to his right to turn it away. 

Bale then came on to see out the final minutes of a win that keeps Real Madrid in touch with the leaders going into massive games against Juventus and Barcelona in which Bale will hope for a far greater role. 

He was a spectator as the Caballero show continued with two more fine saves from Ronaldo and substitute Jese.

Game over: Ronaldo scored a late penalty to secure the win for Real Madrid but his celebration was muted

Ronaldo finally beat Caballero from the spot after Bale’s explosive run earned his team-mate the spot-kick. 

But as he celebrated, he shouted to fans: 'Not today, I've not played well today'. It was harsh on Real Madrid's top scorer who had been denied time and again by the outstanding Caballero.