Real Bounce Back: Bale’s Brace, Ronaldo’s Hat-Trick, Sinks Ten-Man Sevilla

Two first-half goals from Gareth Bale accounted for Real Madrid’s 7-3 drubbing of 10-man Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga on Wednesday.

The Welshman, who was making his first start at the Bernebeu, opened the flood gates 13 minutes into the encounter, sweeping a powerful effort into the top corner of the net following a Karim Benzema assist, before doubling the lead three minutes to the half-hour mark when his free-kick was deflected into the net by the Sevilla wall.

He completed 90 minutes for the ‘Los Blancos’ for the first time since his £85m (€100) move from Tottenham Hotspur, providing two assists as Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick and Benzema’s brace rounded up scores for Carlo Anceloti’s side.

Elated! Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo Shares a High-Ten.
Elated! Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo Shares a High-Ten.

Ivan Rakitic scored twice and Carlos Bacca got one for Sevilla, who had Cameroonian Stephanie Mbia sent off.

Ronaldo’s first of the night came from the penalty spot after Isco was brought down inside the area, he kept his composure to slot home the hosts’ third in the 32nd minute.

Sevilla pulled one back before the break when Sergio Ramos was judged to have pushed Diogo Figueiras in the box and Rakitic converted the resultant spot-kick.

Chances of a comeback then surfaced for the visitors as Bacca slotted home from a Vitolo’s pass to reduce the deficit to within one goal of Real.

Real’s two-goal cushion was restored after the break via a sweeping counter as Benzema side-footed in from Bale’s pass. The 24-year-old Wales international then provided the assist for Ronaldo to score from similar position.

Rekitic curled in a third for Sevilla but Ronaldo curled in a deflected effort to complete his hat-trick few minutes later.

Cameroon international, Mbia, got sent off 15 minutes from full-time after getting into the referee’s book for a second bookable offence following a clash with Luka Modric.

Real pounced on the open space caused by the numerical advantage as Benzema grabbed the seventh goal from a Marcelo cross in the final ten minutes.