Bale played for Real Madrid after 168 days away!

Gareth Bale started for Real Madrid against Villarreal on Saturday. The Welshman, who was up front together with Asensio and Vinicius as Benzema was out, returned to action after 168 days away. 

Five and a half months have passed since the last time Bale played for Real Madrid. That was back on 28th August 2021 as his team beat Betis 0-1 at the Benito Villamarin stadium. 

That day, Bale got 66 minutes in the matchday three encounter, The Welshman started and Ancelotti took him off five minutes after Carvajal's goal. 

Since then, the number 18 had only made three appearances, all of them with his national team. He played 226 minutes in the matches against Belarus (which included a hat-trick), Estonia and again Belarus before getting a calf problem. 

Blae recovered in December and was called up against Atletico Madrid, but COVID-19 once again sidelined him. Three days later, back problems once again kept him out and he had been in the squad four times without coming on until he started this Saturday.