Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale makes LAFC debut in win over Nashville - in pictures

Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini also made his first appearance for the Los Angeles team

Los Angeles FC forward Gareth Bale takes the ball past Nashville SC midfielder Sean Davis during the MLS match at Geodis Park. USA Today Sports

Gareth Bale controls the ball during the MLS match between LAFC and Nashville SC at Geodis Park. USA Today Sports

Gareth Bale loses the ball to Nashville SC midfielder Sean Davis and defender Eric Miller. USA Today Sports

Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar, left, and LAFC's Carlos Vela, right, run for the ball. AP

LAFC's Kwadwo Opoku, left, and Nashville SC's Brian Anunga, right, vie for the ball. AP

LAFC's Kellyn Acosta and Nashville SC's Alex Muyl battle for the ball during the MLS match. AP

LAFC's Giorgio Chiellini, left, challenges Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar for the ball. AP

Nashville SC's Alex Muyl (19) and LAFC's Kwadwo Opoku battle for the ball. AP

Nashville SC's Alex Muyl and LAFC's Ryan Hollingshead compete for a header. AP

LAFC's Cristian Arango is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against Nashville SC. AP

Nashville SC's Dax McCarty battles with LAFC's Cristian Arango during the first half of an MLS match. AP

Wales captain Gareth Bale made his Los Angeles FC debut on Sunday, coming off the bench for the final 18 minutes to help his new team see out a 2-1 away victory over Nashville in Tennessee.

Goals from Cristian Arango and Jose Cifuentes either side of a penalty by Nashville's Hany Mukhtar put LAFC 2-1 up in the Major League Soccer clash, before Bale, a five-time Uefa Champions League winner with Real Madrid, came on in the 72nd minute.

Even though LAFC were on the road, the former Real Madrid and Tottenham superstar was cheered by a sell-out crowd at Geodis Park, which included a vocal contingent of LAFC fans.

"I was itching, soon as I got on the bench I wanted to get off and help the team, play some minutes," Bale said. "Important also for me individually that I kind of get my fitness going.

"Good to get some minutes and more importantly got the three points – yeah we're all happy."

It was Bale's first competitive club match since April 9. Since then Bale has helped Wales earn their first World Cup berth since 1958 with a victory over Ukraine in the intercontinental playoff in June.

He signed with LAFC on June 27, two weeks after veteran Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini announced he was moving to the club.

Chiellini also made his MLS debut on Sunday, playing the first 60 minutes.

"It was really important for us to get him and Gareth a win in their first game," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said.

Both Bale and Chiellini said the heat and humidity in Nashville – a feature in many MLS venues in a regular season played in the summer months – was something they'll have to adjust to.

"The humidity was very difficult even in the warm up," Bale said. "It's something I'm not used to. But these are the challenges that we all have to deal with and we have to push through and do what we have to for the team."

Chiellini said he expected his first match in nearly a month to be a physical challenge, "but I felt better minute by minute," he said.

The victory pushed LAFC ahead of Austin atop the Western Conference standings with 42 points with a game in hand over the Texas club on 41.

With his first MLS action under his belt, Bale said, it's now a matter of gaining familiarity with his teammates and improving his own fitness.

"It's going to take a little time to get used to everything but I'm quite switched on in terms of football so I'm able to get up to speed pretty quick," he said. "Now it's just important to try and get some minutes, try and get as fit as possible as quick as possible."