There are worse places to bring up your century, but then Gareth Bale has a habit of stepping up on the biggest stages. Scorer of arguably the best European Cup final goal ever, arguably the best Copa del Rey final goal ever, scorer of the winner in two Champions League finals and a penalty in the shootout in a third, the Welshman bagged his 100th Real Madrid goal in the derby. He had been on the pitch for 15 largely anonymous minutes and Real were under pressure, struggling to hold a 2-1 lead, when he controlled and struck a firm shot past Jan Oblak.
Bale’s goal made it 3-1, in effect clinching Real’s second victory in 16 domestic derbies and reminding everyone of what he can do at a time when doubts are growing and the emergence of Vinícius Júnior is seen as a threat. It was the 18-year-old Brazilian who been withdrawn for Bale to appear here, and it was the Brazilian who most stood out in a tough, edgy match in which the video assistant referee played perhaps the most prominent role, the stadium left in suspended animation for four decisions that decisively swung this match.
Continue reading...from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2E2JMS0
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