Bale, James get Real Madrid back on track

Agencies Madrid, January 11 Gareth Bale and James Rodridguez both scored to help Real Madrid arrest a worrying dip in form as they dispatched Espanyol 3-0 on Saturday. Karim Benzema struck the post on 10 minutes but the home side didn't have to wait long for an opener, as James converted Cristiano Ronaldo's pass. The Ballon d'Or nominee then watched on as Bale doubled Real's lead with a fine free-kick in the 28th minute. But when Coentrao received a red card following a nasty collision with Jose Canas shortly after half-time, Madrid were forced into an enforced reshuffle. Thankfully for Carlo Ancelotti's men, Espanyol struggled to make the most of their advantage and substitute Nacho Fernandez, added a third to move the leaders four points clear of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who meet on Sunday. Espanyol started the contest brightly and created two chances inside the first three minutes, Felipe Caicedo scuffing wide after a clever run and Sergio Garcia firing straight at Iker Casillas from 20 yards. Madrid soon clicked into gear, though, and Benzema went extremely close in the 10th minute, striking the post with a fierce half-volley. The goal frame failed to save Espanyol a few moments later as the home side took a deserved lead through James, who steered home after receiving Ronaldo's well-placed cut-back. The Champions League winners continued to dominate after taking the lead and, although Raphael Varane headed a presentable chance wide in the 16th minute, a second goal soon arrived. Bale stepped up ahead of usual free-kick taker Ronaldo just before the half-hour mark and sent an unstoppable effort in off the right-hand post from 30 yards, leaving goalkeeper Kiko Casilla helpless. Madrid were not given an ideal start to the second half as Coentrao was controversially dismissed after Canas and the Portugal international had crashed into each other with 53 minutes on the clock. However, the sending off had little impact and Ronaldo almost netted his side's third shortly after, shooting narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner from the edge of the area. The capital club did wrap things up eventually, as Nacho - introduced in response to Coentrao's red card - slammed a half-volley past Casilla following Alvaro Arbeloa's dinked cross 14 minutes from time. Victory sees Madrid provide the response Ancelotti had demanded following the defeats to Valencia and Atletico.

Ancelotti warns Bale after Ronaldo incident

Agencies Madrid, January 11 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended Gareth Bale after the winger opted not to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo and missed a clear chance during the team's 3-0 win over Espanyol, but admitted he may speak to the Welshman over his decision-making after the incident. Bale, who scored Madrid's second on Saturday with an impressive free-kick, raced forward late in the second half and chose to go alone with Ronaldo better placed in the centre but the 25-year-old missed the target and the Portuguese was visibly infuriated. "He played a very good game," Ancelotti said of Bale afterwards. "He was a protagonist in the first goal as well. Later, the fans called for him to pass to Cristiano, but the forwards always want to score when they are up against the goalkeeper." However, he warned the Welshman, "Altruism is important and if anyone is selfish, we are going to fix it. The fans demand a lot from the important players and Bale is one of those." The former Tottenham man came under fire for a similar action against Valencia last weekend, when he failed to square for the unmarked Karim Benzema at 1-1, was dispossessed by Nicolas Otamendi and Madrid ultimately lost 2-1 at Mestalla. "I'm going to look at the move," Ancelotti added. "In Valencia everyone thought he could have thought [about passing]." Asked about Ronaldo's anger at the situation, Ancelotti then sought to play down the incident. "There's no need to make a big issue out of this," he said. "It's a football moment. The relationship between both is good and very good among all the players. We are all working towards the same objective, which is to take Madrid as high as we can go. I don't need to talk about this." Madrid now face Atletico on Thursday in the second leg of the sides' Copa del Rey last-16 tie, with Real 2-0 down from the first match last Wednesday. "There are a few days to go," Ancelotti said. "The best players will play. We want to turn it around and we will do everything we can to reach the quarter-finals." Before that, the Italian coach flies to Zurich where he is in contention for the Coach of the Year award, while Ronaldo is expected to claim the Ballon d'Or in Monday's ceremony. "Cristiano is the same as ever," the Italian said. "He has a great physical condition and is playing for the team. His assist for James was fantastic." Ancelotti also denied speculation linking defender Raphael Varane with a move to Bayern Munich. "I'm surprised [at the story] because I didn't know [Jorge] Mendes was Varane's agent. Three days ago it was a different agent," he said. "But Varane will be a Madrid player for a long time."