Bale raring for Champions League return

This coming Tuesday will see Gareth Bale make his Champions League comeback after a two-year absence. Ironically, the last time the Welshman featured in the competition was against Real Madrid in the 2011 quarter-finals.

This time around the shoe will be on the other foot, with the Welshman set to hear the Champions League anthem again as part of Real Madrid's squad to face Galatasaray.

By hitting the target on his Real Madrid debut, Bale followed in the footsteps of other illustrious Galácticos before him – none more so than both Ronaldos. The Welshman swept home a Carvajal cross in the 38th minute to open his account, before being taken off for Di María just after the hour mark.

Having been thrust into the starting line-up by Carlo Ancelotti, Bale initially struggled to make an impact, but was in the right place at the right time to equalise towards the end of the first half. Clearly rusty after a lack of competitive action, the flying forward still had the energy to embark on a 50-metre sprint in the second half, ending with a cross clawed back right from the byline. It was to be his last act of the evening as Di María was brought on in his place, as planned.

"Proud to score on my debut and pleased to get 60 minutes tonight, just disappointed not to get the result. Looking forward to Tuesday now", Bale tweeted after the match.