Ancelotti acknowledges Bale impact at Betis
Carlo Ancelotti praised the performance of Gareth Bale in Real Madrid's 5-0 rout of bottom side Real Betis in Seville on Saturday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zm34CEDWJ7ALZzdf4uKBna.jpg)
The Betis fans at Estadio Benito Villamarin may have ensured the visitors were met by a hostile atmosphere, but Cristiano Ronaldo soon silenced them as his unstoppable effort gave the Madrid club a 10th-minute lead.
Bale added a second before the half-hour mark as he expertly buried a free-kick before Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and substitute Alvaro Morata also netted to complete a resounding win that saw Madrid draw level on points with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Ancelotti was understandably delighted with his side's "great" performance in Andalusia and acknowledged Bale's impressive display.
"Bale performed well," he said. "But so did everyone else in the team. There was big pressure in the beginning. But everything went well, so we have to be happy.
"When we scored the first goal, the game changed. We had more spaces - it's normal that Betis attacked trying to get a draw.
"All the team played well, we had lots of chances to score – it was a great match from our point of view."
Ancelotti confirmed in the build-up to the match that Morata would not be departing the club on loan in January, with Arsenal reportedly interested, and the Spain Under-21 international admitted he is happy to remain in the Spanish capital.
"Things were easy after Ronaldo's goal," he added.
"But it was a crucial game for us as we were playing before Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
"I'm very happy here, I belong here. I am delighted to be here even if I get few minutes."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack