Gareth Bale Scores Two Goals Before Being Sent Off as Real Madrid Salvages Draw
Real Madrid has five points in fifth place after Gareth Bale twice erased Villarreal's lead to salvage a 2-2 draw for Real Madrid at Villarreal before being sent off.
But the Wales winger then received back-to-back yellow cards in injury time for dangerous studs-first challenges and will miss the next match after the international break against Levante.
Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said he wasn't worried about his team's mediocre start to the season with just one win in three matches.
''I think we did what we had to do, but we just didn't convert our chances,'' Zidane said. ''But our way forward is this one. We can't complain about anything, except the first 15 minutes when we didn't start well.''
Gerard Moreno put Villarreal in front when he stole the ball from Sergio Ramos and set up Toko Ekambi to test goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian blocked his strike, only for Moreno to rush in and finish off the rebound for his third goal in as many matches.
Madrid pressed for an equalizer. Karim Benzema hit the post moments before Gareth Bale scored his first league goal of the season just before halftime at the end of a long team buildup that included a key pass by Marko Jovic.
Madrid dominated the second half until Moi Gomez was in position to tap in a cross in the 74th following a shot by Moreno which was saved by Courtois.
Bale got the final equalizer in the 86th after he took a pass from substitute Luka Modric, cut back inside and slotted a shot inside the near upright.
