Gareth Bale has thanked Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez for making him feel "more involved" at the 10-times European Cup winners.

"I feel like I am more involved this year now," said Bale, whose side begin their latest Champions League campaign with a home match in Group A against Shakhtar Donetsk at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

"The first year you are running off adrenalin from having just signed - you are so happy to be at the club and that drives you on.

"But in the second year I felt a little bit left out wide and not getting so much of the ball but now I feel involved in the play and I think that is showing in the games - that I am able to assist goals and score goals."

Bale was pivotal in helping Madrid clinch 'La Decima' last year after his world record £85m move from Spurs in 2013, but endured a torrid time in his second season with some fans critical of the Wales forward as 'Los Blancos' ended the season without a trophy.

He appears to be back in the groove under Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid coach during the close season.

Bale is operating in a more central role under Benitez scoring two goals and contributing three assists. He supplied two goals and was brought down before Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty in Madrid's 6-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

"We are working hard on the training ground and on the pitch and it's coming together. We just want to score as many goals as we can."

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