Football round-up: Gareth Bale makes case to start Madrid-Juventus clash

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make a late decision on whether Gareth Bale will start against Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday after the Welshman won a penalty in his brief substitute appearance to seal a 2-0 win over Malaga yesterday.

The nine-time European champions led thanks to a fortuitous goal from Angel Di Maria shortly after the break before sealing the points in injury time through Cristiano Ronaldo's spot-kick.

Bale, a 76th-minute substitute after recovering from a thigh injury, chased a long ball before going to ground under a challenge from Weligton for the penalty. "Gareth Bale is fit to play," said Ancelotti. "He has three days of training and then we will decide if he starts against Juventus."

Barcelona lost their 100 per cent record with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.

Sammon's tasty for McClaren

Connor Sammon came off the bench to score a late winner at Watford and continue Derby's upward momentum under new manager Steve McClaren.

The Championship clash, which finished 3-2, began with both sides scoring inside the opening 12 minutes, Fernando Forestieri equalising after Jamie Ward's opener. Ward restored Derby's lead in first-half injury time before Watford levelled again through Lewis McGugan. "I like the team," said McClaren. "They have character and attitude. They can also play football and score goals."

Happy Easter for Millwall

Jermaine Easter's late equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Millwall at home to Queens Park Rangers.

Harry Redknapp's side were heading for their fourth straight win after Charlie Austin's goal midway through the second half until Easter lashed past Rob Green in the third minute of added time.

Niko Kranjcar opened the scoring but Scott McDonald levelled with the first goal conceded by QPR in nine games. "It was no more than the lads deserved, considering the quality that QPR have," said Millwall's manager Steve Lomas.

Arfield of dreams

Scott Arfield's goal kept Burnley top after a 1-0 win at Ipswich.

The in-form midfielder headed in Kieran Trippier's cross in the 80th minute to give the Sean Dyche's side a ninth win in 10 matches. "It is all about small margins," said Dyche. "A moment of quality saw a good cross and a good header."

Ince doesn't miss his dad

Steve Thompson, Blackpool's assistant manager, hailed the character of his side for coping with the absence of Paul Ince and beating Wigan 1-0 at Bloomfield Road.

Thompson and coach Alex Rae took charge as the Blackpool manager served the first of his five-match stadium ban for pushing a fourth official against Bournemouth in September.

Ince's son, Tom, scored a first-half penalty to settle a feisty derby which saw Wigan hit the bar twice and have James McClean sent off for a clash with Blackpool's defender Gary Mackenzie in injury time. "The lads proved their worth and showed what characters they are," said Thompson. "It's not ideal when your manager isn't here."

Vaughan to be wild

Huddersfield Town's striker James Vaughan was sent off for pushing Marcin Wasilewski to the ground as his side lost 2-1 at Leicester City.

A 10th-minute strike from James Vardy and an own goal by Anthony Gerrard put Nigel Peason's side in charge. But Huddersfield hit back through an own goal from Paul Konchesky before Vaughan saw red in the 82nd minute. Mark Robins, Huddersfield's manager, said: "There should have been two red cards because there was a definite elbow thrown by Wasilewski. Vaughan felt aggrieved although his reaction was not great."

Lennon lashes out at Hibs

Neil Lennon criticised "reckless and shocking" tackling by Hibernian in Celtic's 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw at Easter Road yesterday.

Paul Heffernan opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Celtic's substitute James Forrest levelled 15 minutes from the end. "It was shocking and reckless," said Celtic's manager. "Without singling players out, the tackle by [Rowan] Vine on [Darnell] Fisher was rugby-esque."

Kiessling apology

Bayer Leverkusen's striker Stefan Kiessling has apologised for the phantom goal that secured a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim. The German's header flew the wrong side of the post but ended up in the net after slipping through a hole. "I'm sorry to all sports fans," he said.