Gareth Bale made his much eagerly anticipated debut for Real Madrid in the late Saturday night game at newly-promoted Villarreal.
Despite not having played the equivalent of a full game this season due to a foot injury, Carlo Ancelotti decided to start Gareth Bale along with fellow new Real signing, Asier Illaramendi.
Villarreal were highly competitive in the game, showing the form that got them Champions League football only two seasons ago while Real Madrid's international stars took a while to get back after the international break, and they deservedly took the lead on 20 minutes through Cani, after two wonderful saves by Diego Lopez.
Will Casillas ever play in goal for Real Madrid again? Probably, but when, we don't know.
Gareth Bale got a few touches of the ball and looked pretty good, mixing it up on the flanks with Ronaldo. But it was as a poacher, that Gareth Bale scored his first goal for Real Madrid after 30 minutes - not a bad way to start proving that Real Madrid may not have overpaid for him.
Indeed, it was a well taken goal with Bale showing his strength and choosing to stay up rather than go down for the penalty with the defender's arms all over him, and finishing off a cross from Daniel Carvajal.
Bale's reputation as a diver somewhat dispelled by that goal.
In fact, Bale made one of his long range shots at goal which made him such a hero at White Hart Lane last year but it just went over.
Bale later came off after 60 minutes, just before his fellow galactico and former transfer world record holder, Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real the lead. Alas, a former Spurs man, Giovani dos Santos earned Villarreal a deserved 2-2 draw shortly after.
So not a bad start to Bale's career. This should be fun!
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