Real Madrid 3-3 Las Palmas: Gareth Bale sent off as Real produce comeback to take point By Charlotte Marsh
Last Updated: 01/03/17 11:07pm
Gareth Bale was sent off as Real Madrid produced a second-half comeback to take a point during a thrilling 3-3 draw with Las Palmas on Wednesday. Isco had given the hosts the lead inside eight minutes before a stunning equaliser from Tana two minutes later saw the sides deservedly level at the break. But the second half produced plenty of talking points, with Bale sent off for the first time since 2008 minutes after the restart for two quickfire yellow cards before Joanthan Viera - at the centre of the Welshman's dismissal - put Las Palmas ahead from the spot. Kevin-Prince Boateng walked in the third for the visitors, but two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo in three minutes rescued a point for Real, who now slip to second behind Barcelona by one point but with a game in hand. The first half started at an incredible pace as Real Madrid had a goal ruled out for offside in a matter of seconds as Bale lofted a cross into the box for a lurking Alvaro Morata but his tuck home was correctly ruled out for offside.
But the hosts didn't have to wait long for their goal as they went ahead inside eight minutes as Toni Kroos picked out the run of Isco, who pointed to where he wanted the ball, before latching onto the end of the fine pass and sweeping home past Javier Varas.
Las Palmas matched their illustrious opponents less than 90 seconds later though as they got on level terms. It was a thunderbolt strike from Tana as he rounded Sergio Ramos on the right-hand side before powering an effort from around 20 yards that rattled into the top corner.
Fifteen minutes later it was a similar story as Real tested the Las Palmas defence before they hit back themselves. Bale powered forward on the right-hand side - skipping past Dani Castellano - before fizzing a ball across the face of goal that evaded the touch of both Ronaldo and Morata.
Within a minute, Las Palmas were on the move at the other end as former Real Madrid forward Jese drove down the pitch - getting the better of Dani Carvajal in their ongoing battle down the wings - before picking out Boateng on the right-hand side of the box but the striker could only fire his shot over the crossbar.
The second period did not get off to a good start for the hosts as Bale was given his marching orders just two minutes into the half. It was two quick yellow cards for the Welshman, the first for clipping the heels of Viera. Bale then reacted to a shove from the Las Palmas captain, sending him to the ground and picking up another booking to become the first Real player sent off in La Liga this season.
It went from bad to worse for the hosts as they conceded a penalty in the 55th minute after Ramos was penalised for a handball in the box, although the protesting defender claimed he was merely protecting his face from David Simon's shot after initially blocking an effort from Boateng.
Navas did manage to get a foot to Viera's penalty but it only helped to send the ball into the back of the net.
The Real stopper was in the middle of the action once again four minutes later as Boateng collected a long pass from Viera. Navas raced out of the box to try and close him down but he took the ball around the goalkeeper before tapping home into an open net to give the visitors a two-goal advantage.
But as Zinedine Zidane's men have proven time and again this season, they are not ones to roll over when the game does not go their way, and it was Ronaldo to the rescue once again. His cross in the 85th minute hit the arm of Castellano to win the hosts a penalty, which the Portuguese forward dispatched with ease into the top corner to give the hosts a lifeline.
Ronaldo rounded off the comeback four minutes later as Real enjoyed a flurry of corners, with James Rodriguez's delivery finding the head of his team-mate who powered the ball into the back of the net once again to get Los Blancos on level terms.
Neither side could round out the entertaining fixture with a winning goal, with Las Palmas remaining winless at the Bernabeu in La Liga while Real slipped out of first place in the table for the first time since October.
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