Video: Gareth Bale's incredible shot from near half-line hits the post against Athletic Bilbao

Gareth Bale almost equalized with a shot from near the half-line

La Liga leaders Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao this weekend and conceded even more ground to Barcelona, who can leapfrog them into first place if they beat Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Aritz Aduriz scored his 10th goal of the season in the first half with a towering header past Iker Casillas.

Los Blancos tried to equalize and Gareth Bale came very close to tying the game in the 83rd minute. With the ball at his feet just past the half-line, Bale took a shot on goal with the goalkeeper outside his six-yard box. Gorka Iraizoz was seen scrambling back but he was never in a position to save it.

But he will consider himself lucky as Bale’s looping shot hit the left post and rebounded back into the box. Javier Hernandez, who had initially started celebrating thinking it was in, tried to score with a header but missed and the chance eventually came to nothing.