• Real Sociedad players celebrate their opening goal scored by Brazilian forward Willian Jose. AFP
    Real Sociedad players celebrate their opening goal scored by Brazilian forward Willian Jose. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is delighted with the equaliser. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is delighted with the equaliser. Reuters
  • Real midfielder Fede Valverde (C) celebrates with his teammates after giving his side a 2-1 lead against Real Sociedad. EPA
    Real midfielder Fede Valverde (C) celebrates with his teammates after giving his side a 2-1 lead against Real Sociedad. EPA
  • Real winger Gareth Bale seems to be happy on the bench before his late apperance at the Bernabeu. EPA
    Real winger Gareth Bale seems to be happy on the bench before his late apperance at the Bernabeu. EPA
  • Bale prepares to come on as a sub, a move greeted with whistles and jeers from the crowd. AP
    Bale prepares to come on as a sub, a move greeted with whistles and jeers from the crowd. AP
  • Bale tales a shot for Real. Reuters
    Bale tales a shot for Real. Reuters
  • Real's Gareth Bale takes a tumble during the La Liga match against Real Sociedad. AP
    Real's Gareth Bale takes a tumble during the La Liga match against Real Sociedad. AP
  • Luka Modric celebrates scoring Real's third from a Gareth Bale cross. Reuters
    Luka Modric celebrates scoring Real's third from a Gareth Bale cross. Reuters
  • Luka Modri celebrates scoring his side's third goal with Gareth Bale. AP
    Luka Modri celebrates scoring his side's third goal with Gareth Bale. AP
  • Real's Eden Hazard after the win against Real Sociedad. Getty
    Real's Eden Hazard after the win against Real Sociedad. Getty

Zinedine Zidane pleads with Real Madrid fans to back off after Gareth Bale is greeted with jeers and whistles


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Zinedine Zidane appealed to Real Madrid fans to stop giving Gareth Bale a rough ride after he was subjected to a barrage of jeers at the Bernabeu.

The Wales forward came off the bench to loud derision before helping Real seal a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Bale, out of favour with Real fans after the latest country versus club row during the international break, kept his cool to send over a deep cross which led to Luka Modric wrapping things up with a third goal.

Bale had been criticised in Spain after being pictured celebrating Wales' Euro 2020 qualification victory over Hungary in midweek with a flag which read "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order".

Zidane, however, called for a sense of perspective after the forward produced a determined display, with Real recovering from a terrible start when Willian Jose punished a poor defensive backpass from captain Sergio Ramos.

"I hope this doesn't carry on for the rest of the season," said Real coach Zidane. "We want the fans to be with us from the beginning to the end, but we cannot control that.

"The public has the right to do what they want, but I ask that they applaud everyone. I'm happy with the game and the victory and Bale came into the game well. What you have to do is keep working on the pitch."

Zidane added: "I have not spoken to him (about the jeers), I have only congratulated him. I can't tell you if it's unfair or not. Everyone can say what they want. We need our fans, then we can't control what happens.

"There is too much noise with Bale, he wants to be with us and do it well. That is why we don't want to talk so much.

"He is integrated into the group and wants to play, just like everyone else."

After Real recovered from their poor start, Karim Benzema equalised from Luka Modric's free-kick, before a deflected shot from Federico Valverde put the home side in front soon after the restart.

Zidane felt his team had responded well, now back level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

"We didn't start well with the ball, we were very slow. Then, the end of the first half was very good and the start of the second half also," the Real Madrid coach said.

"There was a very good team playing against us, so we are happy for the three points."

Real Madrid have little time to regroup as they host Paris St Germain in the Champions League.

"What we want is to play a great game. We have to rest well, because this game has taken a lot from us," Zidane said.

Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil was left to reflect on what might have been.

"I am happy with the first part of the match, and I think we deserved more, although Real did have eight very good minutes," he said.

"We have had opportunities and if we had taken them, the mood would have been different.

"We had clear options to make goal. I'm happy because the team has pressed on our rival's goal throughout the match."