Bale moves on from Benitez blow to aid Zidane

Despite netting a hat-trick in French legend Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge, Gareth Bale admitted he has had to shrug off personal disappointment at Rafael Benitez's unceremonious sacking as Real Madrid coach.

Bale stole the show with his second treble in four games in a 5-0 rout of Deportivo la Coruna as Zidane was given a hero's welcome on his return to the Santiago Bernabeu limelight where he played for the final five years of his career.

The optimism that engulfed the Bernabeu following Zidane's promotion from coach of Madrid's feeder team, Castilla, to the top job was in stark contrast to the poisonous atmosphere during Benitez's unhappy seven-month spell in charge when he and many players, including Bale, felt the fans' wrath.