Bale under fire as Madrid fans fume after Welshman failed to pass to Ronaldo

Gareth Bale responded to his Real Madrid critics with one of the passes of the season and a sensational free-kick in his side's 3-0 win over Espanyol but still couldn't please everyone at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Welshman was accused of being selfish after Real Madrid's first defeat in 22 games last weekend away to Valencia but there was nothing selfish about his glorious 40-yard crossfield pass on 12 minutes that dropped on Cristiano Ronaldo's toe enabling him to cross first time for James Rodriguez to score Real Madrid's opener.

And then on 20 minutes Bale took a free-kick from 30-yards out and hammered it home off the inside of Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla's left-hand upright with Ronaldo looking on.