It was Bale’s first goal since returning to the club from Real Madrid.

The Welshman was brought on in the 70th minute and three minutes later he met a Sergio Reguilon cross with a firm and well-directed header to restore Tottenham’s lead.

Harry Kane had put Spurs ahead in the 13th minute from the penalty kick spot after Adam Lallana was ruled to have fouled him as he climbed for a header.

Brighton responded with a long spell of good possession football as Spurs failed to drive home their advantage and Graham Potter’s side drew level in the 56th minute.

Tariq Lamptey drove into the far, bottom corner after being set up by Pascal Gross at the end of a clever move from Brighton.

But the VAR official asked referee Graham Scott to look at a challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg by Solly March.

Spurs felt that Marsh had fouled the Dane but Scott ruled the challenge was fair and the goal stood.

Tottenham then struck the post twice, firstly a drive from the edge of the box from Erik Lamela and then a close range effort from a tight angle by Kane.

Then came Bale’s winner as Spurs moved above Everton in the standings into second place on 14 points, two behind leaders Liverpool.

Everton lost 2-1 to Newcastle United earlier on Sunday.

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It is a match manager Zinedine Zidane has since described as a “must-win game”.

None of them — Modric, Bale and Vazquez — played in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Real Mallorca, Real Madrid’s first La Liga loss of the season.

Modric and Bale both picked up knocks on international duty while Vazquez has been out since the start of the month.

Toni Kroos, Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal, all of whom also missed the Real Mallorca defeat, return to the squad.

Kroos has been carrying an injury while Hazard missed the Real Mallorca trip because of the birth of his fourth child, and Carvajal was rested.

Real Madrid have managed only one point from their first two Group A games in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

“We know what we’re playing for,” Zidane said of Tuesday’s trip. “We need to play to win because there’s no other option there. We need to focus on winning on Tuesday.”

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It was a match in which the European champions rode their luck to stay within nine points of leaders FC Barcelona.

Real came under heavy pressure early on, but Karim Benzema gave them the lead towards the end of the first half from the spot.

Thereafter, a penalty kick was awarded for handball following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Levante, who pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this season, deservedly drew level on the hour mark.

It was through a sliding finish from Roger Marti, who had struck the woodwork twice before the interval.

Real Madrid struggled to impose themselves on the game but were awarded another hotly-contested penalty kick following a VAR review.

That was when Casemiro went down in the box following light contact.

Wales forward Bale, who had only replaced Benzema minutes earlier, deceived Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez with an ice-cool finish from the spot.

But he barely celebrated the goal, brushing away team mates who tried to congratulate him.

Real Madrid had defender Nacho Fernandez sent off for a second booking late in the game.

The Spaniard’s first yellow card meant he was already ruled out of next Saturday’s “Clasico’’ at home to FC Barcelona in the league.

Real Madrid are third in the standings on 48 points, two behind Atletico Madrid who beat Villarreal 2-0 earlier on Sunday and still adrift of Barca.

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Bale, who missed Real Madrid’s weekend league game against Espanyol, had arrived with the rest of the Wales squad on Sunday and attended an awards dinner in Cardiff.

“But following dialogue with Real Madrid, Bale was sent for a scan and results confirmed that he wouldn’t be fit to feature,” the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said on Tuesday in a statement.

“Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw will now join up with the rest of the squad later today.”

Bale is the most high-profile player in the Welsh side and the country’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia are still hanging in the balance.

Chris Coleman’s team are second in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one clear of Ireland in third.

They take on hosts Georgia on Friday and host Ireland the following Monday in their final qualifier.

Wales need to top the group to secure an automatic place in Russia but will go through to the playoffs if they finish second.

Bale had been doubtful after Real manager Zinedine Zidane reported the player was suffering a small calf strain.

The 28-year-old has scored 26 goals in 68 appearances for his country and was instrumental in their run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

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