Football
ESPN staff 9y

Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez braces help Real Madrid cruise; Barca win

Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez each scored twice as Real Madrid easily defeated Real Betis 5-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Bale opened the scoring with an unmarked header two minutes into the match, and James doubled the advantage on a free kick from a tight angle shortly before half-time.

Karim Benzema made it 3-0 just after the break on a diving header, and James scored on a remarkable overhead kick three minutes later to make it 4-0.

Bale added his second in the 89th minute as Real rebounded from last weekend's goalless draw at Sporting Gijon in a big way.

Thomas Vermaelen was the unlikely hero as Barcelona laboured to a 1-0 win over Malaga to maintain their 100 percent start to the Primera Division season.

The former Arsenal defender smashed in the only goal of the game with 17 minutes remaining at the Camp Nou, just when Barca looked set to draw a blank against Javi Gracia's dogged outfit for the third successive game.

Cameroonian goalkeeper Carlos Kameni made a string of vital saves in the second half but could only palm Luis Suarez's cross from the left towards the penalty spot, where Vermaelan was waiting to lash into the empty net and score his first goal for the Catalan club in only his third league start since joining over a year ago.

Neymar returned after two weeks on the sidelines with mumps, forming Barcelona's front three with Lionel Messi and Suarez for the first time in a competitive game since last season's Champions League final.

Celta Vigo continued their 100 percent start to their campaign by easing to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Rayo Vallecano.

The visitors had goalkeeper Tono sent off when the game was barely 10 minutes old and Nolito converted the subsequent penalty to put Eduardo Berrizo's side on their way to a second successive victory.

The Celta forward struck again early in the second half, while midfielder Andreu Fontas added a third moments before the final whistle.

In the early game, Sporting Gijon managed their second straight goalless draw, this time away to David Moyes' Real Sociedad, who have also yet to score or concede this season.

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