Football - Gareth Bale scores 100th Real Madrid goal as win over Atletico sends Los Blancos second

Gareth Bale came off the bench to score his 100th Real Madrid goal and lift his side into second place in the Liga table with a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid.

The result continues Real Madrid’s recent resurgence under Santiago Solari, with goals from Casemiro, Sergio Ramos and Bale giving the visitors the win, and inflicting a first home league defeat on Atleti this season.

It took Real Madrid just 15 minutes to open the scoring, with Casemiro sending an overhead kick into the net after a header from Ramos. However, Atletico Madrid responded quickly when Antoine Griezmann put a finish through the legs of Thibaut Courtois, targeted by the home fans on his first visit to the Wanda Metropolitano.

A controversial penalty award gave Ramos the chance to put his side ahead once more from the spot and the Real Madrid captain obliged, finding the bottom left-hand corner of Jan Oblak’s net with a driven finish. No Panenka, this time.

Atleti thought they’d equalised again when Alvaro Morata lobbed Courtois to make it 2-2, but VAR was used to chalk off the goal due to offside. And Bale came off the bench to make sure of the result, with Thomas Partey shown a second yellow card late on to really finish off the hosts.

Madrid are now five points behind Barcelona in second, with the Catalans facing Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Nobody was surprised when the Real Madrid team sheet was published and there was no place for Bale in the starting line-up. The Welshman has struggled for form of late and so he had to make do with a place on the bench.

When he did come on, though, an impression was made. Bale scored the goal (his 100th for Real Madrid) that killed the match, so will that now start a renaissance for the Welshman? Can he use this to build on?

There were a number of standout performers for Real Madrid. Karim Benzema, for one, continued his recent good run of form, giving the Atletico Madrid defence all sorts of problems. Sergio Ramos was the usual pantomime villain, but kept things tight at the back - and scored. But it was in midfield that this game was won. Toni Kroos was impressive, but Luka Modric shone brighter than anyone else. He was the key to the match.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak 5, Arias 6, Gimenez 6, Godin 5, Hernandez 5, Partey 6, Saul 6, Correa 5, Lemar 5, Griezmann 7, Morata 6. Subs: Kalinic 5, Vitolo 5, Rodri 5.

Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Carvajal 7, Varane 7, Ramos 7, Reguilon 7, Casemiro 7, Kroos 8, Modric 8, Vazquez 7, Vinicius 7, Benzema 8. Subs: Ceballos 5, Bale 7, Mariano.

15’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 0-1 Real Madrid: It's a breakthrough for Real Madrid and it has come from an unlikely source! Kroos' corner kick was headed into the air by Ramos and Casemiro, of all people, was on hand to fire home an overhead kick. The visitors have the lead!

25’ GOAL! Atletico 1-1 Real Madrid: An equaliser! Is it going to stand? We are going to a VAR review here! Correa threaded through Griezmann, who kept his composure and slotted the low finish through the legs of Courtois. But will this stand?

26’ GOAL STANDS! The officials have looked at the VAR review and they have allowed the goal to stand. They were looking for an offside, but Ramos kept Griezmann onside! We're level.

39’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Vinicius goes round Gimenez down the outside and the Atleti defender hauls him down! The referee points to the spot. It's going to VAR, though.

41’ The penalty stands! The officials have had a look at the VAR footage and they have decided that the foul from Gimenez has continued into the box and Ramos will have a chance from the spot.

42’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid: No Panenka from Ramos this time! The Real Madrid captain scores his 11th goal of the season by firing a low finish into the bottom left corner of the Atletico Madrid net. Oblak stood no chance of saving that one! Real are ahead again.

54’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... IS IT? What a brilliant goal by Morata. The Atletico Madrid forward was played in behind and lobbed Courtois, but the officials are going to use VAR to look at it.

55’ The goal DOESN'T stand! After a delay in play allowing for the officials to look at the goal, the offside call is made. It's the right decision. Morata was indeed offside when the pass was made.

74’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-3 Real Madrid: It's a third goal for Real Madrid and it's Bale! That might well be the points secured for the visitors. Modric slotted the pass through to Bale, who take one touch and then fired a low finish into the far corner of Oblak's net!

81’ SENT OFF! Atletico Madrid are reduced to 10 men and that should be that. Partey trods on the foot of Kroos and the midfielder is shown a second yellow card. That's game over.

This was the first time that Atletico Madrid conceded twice in the first half in 47 home games played at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Casemiro’s goal after 14 minutes was the quickest an opposition side has ever scored against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Gareth Bale has now scored 100 goals in all competitions for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid were the last team to score three goals away to Atletico Madrid in La Liga - back in November 2016.

This is the first time that Atletico Madrid have lost at home in La Liga this season.