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Attendance: 23,018
Levante logo
La Liga | Gameweek 25
Feb 24, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

1-2

Marti (60')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Benzema (43' pen.), Bale (78' pen.)

Solari insists Bale was ecstatic after scoring winning goal

Solari insists Bale was ecstatic after scoring winning goal
© Reuters
The forward appeared to shrug off his teammates when they wanted to join him to celebrate.

Santiago Solari insisted Gareth Bale was "ecstatic" after scoring Real Madrid's winner against Levante on Sunday – despite the Wales star appearing to shrug off his team-mates' celebrations on the pitch.

Bale rolled home a cheeky late penalty as Madrid recorded a somewhat controversial win, with both goals coming from the penalty spot via VAR and the second one withstanding a review despite an apparent dive from Casemiro.

But as team-mates converged to celebrate, the stony-faced forward – who had only just come on as a substitute – brushed them away and jogged back to the centre circle.

"He was ecstatic when I saw him in the dressing room having got his goal," Solari said after the match. "That's all your speculation because he was waiting to come on. I told him to wait.

"I'm thrilled with how he went out there and he looked hungry when he got on the pitch. He clinched the win for us and worked extremely hard. When we went down to 10 he was running for two up top and I thought he had a great game.

"You have an awful lot more eyes than we do, but we're there and what I saw is how hungry he was to get on the pitch and help the team. I'm very pleased, he can celebrate the goals however he likes."

Levante were left fuming by the decision to award the penalty, and by the fact that decision stood despite the review.

"I've seen the images but I trust my player more," coach Paco Lopez said.

"When I have seen his gestures in the field, anyone who knows (Cheick) Doukoure knows that it is impossible to show that disapproval. Obviously, he says he has not touched it and it is not a penalty.

"The images speak for themselves, they are very clear."

Karim Benzema scored Madrid's first from the spot after Enis Bardhi raised his arm to block a cross, though it had not initially been spotted.

Roger Marti had already hit the post for Levante by then and did again before levelling on the hour mark.

But after Bale's penalty, the match ended with angry scenes as Madrid's Nacho Fernandez collected a second yellow card, as did Levante's Ruben Rochina from the bench having already been substituted.

The win saw Madrid cut the gap to Barcelona to nine points ahead of next week's Clasico, though the sides will first meet in the Copa del Rey in midweek.

"We take each match as it comes," Solari added. "We are alive in three competitions and the most important match is the next one."

Lopez may have had complaints about the officials, but could not be disappointed in his side's performance.

"There was great effort, work, a very hard-working team up against one of the best in the world," he said.

"We have shown again our DNA. We deserved a lot more than the final 1-2 scoreline."

Asked if he felt his side had been the better team on the night, he added: "With all due respect, I believe that, yes."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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