La Liga - Huesca 0 Real Madrid 1 - Match Report
Gareth Bale finds back of the net for the first time in ten La Liga games, as Real Madrid edge out bottom of the table Huesca 1-0
Mitch Freeley
Gareth Bale ended his longest LaLiga goal drought by scoring the winner as Real Madrid clinched a fourth successive victory with a 1-0 win over rock-bottom Huesca.
The Wales international scored his first league goal in 802 minutes of football to give Santiago Solari's men the lead at El Alcoraz and they withstood some nervous moments to emerge with all three points.
LaLiga debutants Huesca went into the game without a victory since the opening day of the season but they restricted the European champions to a season-low of two first-half shots.
Bale, who shook off a knock in time to start the match, looked dangerous throughout and could have added to his tally, but Solari will have been frustrated by the ease with which Huesca might have equalised had their finishing been less wayward.
Bale's poor league form had drawn criticism before the game but he calmly stroked Madrid into the lead after eight minutes, meeting Alvaro Odriozola's cross with a side-footed volley from 12 yards out that found the corner of the net.
Huesca almost equalised when Ezequiel Avila's thunderbolt of a shot from just inside the box was saved by Thibaut Courtois, but settled for a one-goal deficit at half-time having weathered numerous Madrid attacks.
Substitute Gonzalo Melero headed wide from point-blank range in the opening seconds of the first half, and team-mate David Ferreiro had a dipping drive from the edge of the box tipped over the crossbar by Courtois.
Bale surged down the left flank moments later and forced Aleksandar Jovanovic into a sprawling save, the former Tottenham man not punished for then dinking narrowly wide when one-on-one with the goalkeeper as his first-half strike proved sufficient.
Goals/ Highlights
7- Goal! Gareth Bale's side-footed volley puts Real 1-0 up!
Peep! We are underway!
Live Updates
Preamble
Just about to kick-off! Just a reminder that Real Madrid is eight points away from leaders Barcelona, who breezed past Espanyol last night 4-0. Leo Messi scored two free-kicks in the game.
Just 15 minutes till kick-off! The atmosphere is building outside the ground!
¡Qué ambientazo en los alrededores de El Alcoraz! 😍#HuescaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/4HhpAsM80p — SD Huesca (@SDHuesca) December 9, 2018
Now for Real Madrid! The starting line-up is all explained nicely here! Fresh from winning the Ballon d'Or Luca Modric is in the side. Bale, Benzema & Vasquez make up the front three.
🏟📡 We've got all the latest team news from El Alcoraz! Kick-off is fast approaching... #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/XXHfI5JwGA — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 9, 2018
Team news! First up Huesca! Keep an eye out for striker Cucho Hernández. The Columbian number 9 scored 16 goals last season, and will be a handful!
¡Nuestros chicos están aquí! #YoNoReblo 🔵🔴#HuescaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/ztNe8V3dPX — SD Huesca (@SDHuesca) December 9, 2018
The Stadio El Alcoraz is looking lovely in the December sunshine! Can Huesca stun Real Madrid today? After the season Madrid have had, anything is possible!
¡Nuestros chicos están aquí! #YoNoReblo 🔵🔴#HuescaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/ztNe8V3dPX — SD Huesca (@SDHuesca) December 9, 2018
Good News! Los Blancos have arrived! We are set for kick-off at 18:15 on HD 3!
🏟 Team's arrival at the El Alcoraz!#RMFans | #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/2aeBy0IQMY — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 9, 2018
So amazingly, Huesca's ground only holds 7,600 fans. So it's almost going to be a cup tie for Los Blancos, who are used to be playing in front of 81,044 at the Santiago Bernabeu!
Good afternoon! Welcome to the Live Updates of Huesca Vs Real Madrid in La Liga! Los Blanco's head to the tiny Estadio El Alcoraz to take on strugglers Huesca who have only picked up seven points so far this season. Join me for all the latest updates from the game, including all the team news, Live Match commentary and video highlights from the contest!
