Gareth Bale Redeemed but Cristiano Ronaldo Leaves Real Madrid Fans Wanting More

Scoring two simple goals at home against Levante doesn't make you somebody. Gareth Bale knows that.

But when the Welshman fired home from close range to open the scoring and break his eight-game duck, he celebrated like he had scored in the World Cup final.

Covering his ears, to show the Santiago Bernabeu what he thought of their whistles and abuse that has plagued him in recent weeks, Bale escaped the grasp of Luka Modric to plant a kick square on the face of the corner flag.

Bale was triumphant, delighted to put one back in the eye of his critics, to prove his worth ahead of the Clasico.

Given the nature of the Spanish media, Marca and AS will focus on the positives ahead of the clash with Barcelona next Sunday.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

That hasn't been the way in recent weeks, with Marca publishing a full-page diatribe against Bale, highlighted by the BBC (broadcasters, not the Real Madrid front line).

Marca responded to that on Monday morning, insisting they had nothing against the Welshman, writing: "These comments were not only wholly unfounded and unjust—all the information published about Bale had been duly sourced and corroborated—but they also twisted things out of context."

AS published a more positive story on Bale on Monday, explaining how he spent half-an-hour a day doing extra training with Paul Clement to work on his deficiencies. Joaquin Maroto wrote:

"

The focus above all is on improving Bale’s play on the right (where he now plays) and ensuring he gets into more scoring positions. Helping out at these sessions are volunteers from Madrid’s youth ranks, who admit they are learning “almost more than Bale is”. Some of the youngsters involved said, “Bale is a machine, he’s a phenomenon”.

"

On the other side of the coin is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Without Iker Casillas on the pitch, there was nobody to stop the stroppy Portuguese forward from making a swift exit at full time, instead of applauding Real Madrid's fans.

It was a fitting ending to a night when Ronaldo was at his sulky, almost malevolent worst.

When Bale opened the scoring, Cristiano cursed. His scissors kick had been headed off the line, much to the forward's frustration.

When Bale eventually fired home the rebound, it didn't improve Ronaldo's mood.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The second goal exacerbated the situation. Ronaldo's shot was flicked in, almost accidentally, by Bale.

Ronaldo celebrated it with Dani Carvajal, but it wasn't his goal, and he knew it.

Lionel Messi's brace against Eibar put him two goals ahead of his rival in the race to be La Liga's top scorer; the Argentinian now has 32.

While Bale was thriving, turning in his best performance in weeks, reveling in the return of his friend Luka Modric, Ronaldo was stopped at every turn.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Early on, Bale juggled the ball and fired a strike across the face of goal, inches wide, but Ronaldo turned away in disgust.

When Bale fired the rebound over after a Ronaldo shot hit the post, that sentiment was magnified. And at the end, Ronaldo had a good chance six yards out but belted it over the bar.

However, everything can change in the Clasico, and this match against one of La Liga's lesser lights will be forgotten. The Clasico is a game where you really can become someone.