MADRID: The only positive that Real Madrid could take away from their scoreless draw with Villarreal on Saturday was Gareth Bale, whose good form belied his return to the pitch after more than five months on the sidelines.
The stalemate left Real four points clear of second-placed Sevilla as the La Liga leaders continue to struggle without injured striker Karim Benzema, and with their Champions League clash against Paris St Germain just three days away.
While Real stumbled, an 89th-minute goal by Mario Hermoso snatched 10-man Atletico Madrid a 4-3 victory over Getafe in a wild capital derby that featured a red card, three penalties, and six first-half goals.
Bale had not played for Real since three appearances in August. Then injuries and a Covid-19 infection ensured he fell out of Carlo Ancelotti’s rotation in favor of younger players such as Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio. During that period, however, he did play three World Cup qualifiers for Wales, twice in September and once in November.
With Benzema recovering from a left hamstring pull, Ancelotti gave Bale the nod to play as his striker. Bale needed almost the entire first half to finally get involved against Villarreal, but once he did, he showed the same ability he always had to produce scoring chances.
Real top La Liga on 54 with Sevilla on 50 and Real Betis are third way back on 40 points as they look to regain the crown they lost to Atletico last season.
Struggling champions Atletico edged Getafe to climb to fourth on 39 points but trail Real by a distant 15 points.
Angel Correa scored twice and Matheus Cunha was also on the mark before Hermoso volleyed Atletico’s winner.
Getafe led briefly in the first-half after rallying from 2-0 down with goals from Borja Mayoral and two penalties from Enes Unal, but bowed eventually to relentless pressure from the hosts.
The helter-skelter game had six goals in the first-half, as well as a missed penalty, before Hermoso — who had been brought on after Atletico defender Felipe was dismissed in the second period — sent the Wanda Metropolitano crowd into raptures.
Elsewhere, Cadiz goalie Jeremas Ledesma saved a late penalty by Celta Vigo’s Santi Mina to ensure a 0-0 draw, while Osasuna won 3-0 at Rayo Vallecano.
Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2022