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Zinedine Zidane compares Gareth Bale to Cristiano Ronaldo after Real Madrid win

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - APRIL 30:  Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring goal during the La Liga match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Rea
Image: Gareth Bale scored the winner against Real Sociedad on Saturday

Zinedine Zidane said Gareth Bale could be as important for Real Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored the winner at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

The Wales international scored his 19th goal of the season in the 1-0 win, despite making only 20 starts this season due to a series of fitness concerns.

Ronaldo missed the game due to a thigh injury and remains a doubt for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City, while fellow forward Karim Benzema was also out injured.

Gareth Bale went to celebrate his 21st goal of the season with his Real Madrid  team-mates
Image: Bale celebrates his winning goal

But Real boss Zidane backed Bale to lead the line after scoring the goal which keeps their title hopes alive.

"Bale has had problems but he could be like Cristiano and play many games," Zidane said.

"It was great to see a player of his importance score a goal ahead of Wednesday. I'm happy for him. He's had a lot of injury problems but I'm very happy to see him play 90 minutes.

"It means that every player is important, they deliver when they play and it's important to know that I have 20 or 21 players who are always ready to play.

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"When we play every three days it's always difficult but everyone plays and everyone delivers, and that's the best thing about this team."

Gareth Bale (C) headed just over the bar in the first-half
Image: Bale has been backed to lead the line against Man City

Zidane made five changes to the team that drew 0-0 with City last week and his side looked to be heading for another goalless draw until Bale nodded in Lucas Vazquez's cross with 10 minutes remaining.

"We had to suffer and that's what the players did. We were up against a difficult opponent but I'm happy with the work we did and to pick up the points," he added.

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - APRIL 30:  Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring goal during the La Liga match between Real Sociedad de Futbol and Rea
Image: Bale started with both Ronaldo and Benzema injured

Defender Sergio Ramos insists Real Madrid can still win the title this season and will not give up on their pursuit of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who started the weekend ahead of them.

He said: "The team were playing for our lives, we didn't have much luck with the chances we created but we kept on insisting. It was a final, we're playing for the league title and we had to keep the pressure on.

"As long as we have a chance we have to fight and sacrifice a lot.

"It's an exciting end to the league season. We would like to be in a different position but now we have to wait and hope that the others slip up."

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