Bale snaps drought to guide Real to victory

Messi says snub no extra motivation in hat-trick for Barcelona

Gareth Bale ended a run of 802 minutes without a goal in La Liga as Real Madrid won 1-0 at bottom side Huesca yesterday to climb back to within five points of leaders Barcelona, who thrashed Espanyol.

The Welshman struck his first goal in the league since the start of September to lift Real to a fourth win in five matches and move the European champions up to fourth place.

Bale put a halt to his longest spell without scoring in the league since joining Real as he expertly cushioned in a volley from an arcing cross by Alvaro Odriozola on eight minutes.

On Saturday, Lionel Messi insisted his fifth-place finish in Monday’s Ballon d’Or awards was not a motivating factor behind his sensational performance in Barcelona’s 4-0 win over local rivals.

The Argentine forward scored two masterful free kicks and created a goal for Ousmane Dembele among highlights in a bewitching individual display.

Messi, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, did not make the podium for the first time in a decade with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric given the trophy.

“No,” said ■ Barca captain

Saturday’s matches: La Liga

A. Madrid Valencia Villarreal Espanyol

Serie A

Napoli Cagliari Lazio

Bundesliga

Freiburg Wolfsburg Bayern Leverkusen Schalke H. Berlin 3 1 2 0

4 2 2

3 2 3 1 1 1 Alaves Sevilla Celta Vigo Barcelona

Frosinone AS Roma Sampdoria

RB Leipzig Hoffenheim Nuremberg Augsburg Dortmund Eintracht 0 1 3 4

0 2 2

0 2 0 0 2 0 Messi to Movistar when asked if he had extra motivation for the game because of the awards snub.

“We all came out fired-up from the start, really focused and determined. We knew [we had to because of] the stadium we were coming to and the opponents we were facing, they are having a great season.”

Messi’s teammates praised him, disagreeing with his placement in the Ballon d’Or rankings and the words of Brazil legend Pele, who said the forward only has one foot and one skill.

“[Pele] must not be able to see very well if he said what he said about Messi,” Barcelona full back Jordi Alba said.

Earlier, Borja Mayoral salvaged a point for Levante with a stoppage-time equaliser in a thrilling 4-4 draw away to Eibar.