Gareth Bale and Brahim Diaz strike as Real Madrid beat minnows Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa del Rey

Gareth Bale scored his first Real Madrid goal in almost five months as the LaLiga giants beat a spirited Unionistas de Salamanca side to make it through to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.

The Welsh winger opened the scoring after 18 minutes, when the home side failed to clear a James Rodriguez cross and he chested the ball down at the far post and slotted past goalkeeper Brais Pereiro.

Bale barely celebrated, but was hugged by Casemiro after netting his first Madrid goal since his double in the 2-2 draw at Villarreal in LaLiga on September 1.

Unionistas hit back just short of the hour mark as substitute Alvaro Romero, who had only just come on, ran through and hit a super shot which flew past Alphonse Areola and onto the roof of the net from just outside the box.

The locals’ joy did not last long, though, as Bale’s replacement, Brahim Diaz, forced a second Madrid goal after 62 minutes.

Brahim was off balance as he met a Marcelo cross from the left, but was able to direct his effort inside the post from close range.

Juan Gongora could only hit the ball against the upright and into the back of the net as he attempted a last-ditch clearance.

That will go down as an own goal, but Brahim did get his name on the scoresheet as he beat two defenders and fired a low shot into the corner from a tight angle in added time to give Madrid a 3-1 win and confirm a place in Friday’s last-16 draw for Zinedine Zidane’s side.

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