Spanish League: Gareth Bale double boosts Real Madrid on top

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring against Leganes in their La Liga match at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Sunday. The hosts won 3-0. (Photo: AP )

Gareth Bale scored twice as Real Madrid extended their La Liga lead to five points with a 3-0 win over Leganes on Sunday.

The Welshman struck twice in seven first-half minutes before Alvaro Morata added a third 14 minutes from time.

“You saw that the first-half was difficult for us,” said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

“Once you score a goal it is a different game and we controlled the match much more in the second-half.”

There was to no such comeback from La Liga newcomers Leganes on their first ever league visit to the Santiago Bernabeu after Bale had awoken Madrid from their slumber in the first 30 minutes.

Bale outsprinted the Leganes defence as he latched onto Isco’s through ball and rounded Jon Ander Serantes before slotting home from a narrow angle.

His second was a scrappier finish as Bale pounced on a loose ball inside the area from Toni Kroos’s free-kick to bundle home from close range.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title hopes suffered another serious setback as two Real Sociedad penalties inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Champions League finalists. Carlos Vela opened the scoring nine minutes into the second half before handing responsibilities from the spot to Willian Jose to seal Sociedad’s third straight win 15 minutes from time.

A second league defeat in three games means Atletico remain three points behind league leaders Real Madrid.