Real Madrid 3-0 Leganes: Gareth Bale scores twice as hosts move five points clear

Gareth Bale celebrated his new contract by scoring twice to help extend Real Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga with a 3-0 win over Leganes at the Bernabeu.

The Welshman, who committed his future to Real Madrid last week by signing a new five-and-a-half year deal, struck twice in the space of seven first-half minutes, before Alvaro Morata's strike ensured La Liga newcomers Leganes' first trip to the Santiago Bernabeu ended in defeat.

The win moves Real five points clear at the top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona's trip to Sevilla later on Sunday.

Both sides struggled to retain possession in the opening half hour with Real, who were searching for their first clean sheet in 11 games in all competitions, unable to get forward due to some strong defensive displays from the visitors.

The first real chance for the hosts came after 20 minutes, Bale delivering an excellent diagonal pass into the box for Morata, but the striker was unable to connect at a tight angle.

Cristiano Ronaldo then missed the chance to put his side ahead when he blasted over after being released by Raphael Varane's long ball.

Bale eventually woke Real from their slumber in the 38th minute when the 27-year-old latched onto a fantastic ball from Isco to go on a brilliant run down the middle before taking the ball around Jon Ander Serantes to slot home.

Alexander Szymanowski came agonisingly close to drawing level five minutes later, but he saw his shot drift narrowly over the bar thanks to a Varane deflection.

Los Blancos strengthened their lead with the final kick of the first-half when Bale got on the end of Toni Kroos' free-kick, with the ball hitting Morata before the Welshman provided a simple finish.

Real came out stronger after the interval and received a huge boost ahead of a hugely demanding two-month stretch after the upcoming international break as Luka Modric made his return just after the hour-mark , following a month out due to knee surgery.

Bale almost bagged a hat-trick just minutes into the second half but Serantes made himself big to make the block from close range.

Shortly afterwards Bale was at it again, calling the Leganes 'keeper into action when he rose high to connect with a cross in from the left to produce a fine block at full-stretch from Serantes.

Another smart save, this time at the other end, prevented Argentinian forward Szymanowski from pulling one back for the away side when Keylor Navas produced his first save of the day after 70 minutes to keep out the powerful goal-bound shot with fingertips.

Morata put the game to bed with a third 14 minutes from time, collecting a through-ball before coolly slotting past Serantes.