Gareth Bale showed Real Madrid supporters that he is more than just a thunderous left-foot shot on Saturday night with two perfect assists to ensure his team took three points from their visit to Rayo Vallecano.

In Madrid they are calling them the 194m euro goals — Ronaldo finishing from a Bale assist — and just as in the 7-3 over Sevilla in midweek the two combined in Real’s crucial third goal. Bale left the hapless Anaitz Arbilla behind on the right touchline, carried the ball to the byline and pulled it back inteligently to Ronaldo who scored his 13th goal of the season.

It was Bale’s fourth assist in two games and his second of the match. Midway through the first half, and fed by Xabi Alonso, he reminded Real fans of David Beckham by sending over the perfect right-footed cross that French forward Karim Benzema had only to direct past Rayo goalkeeper Ruben Martinez to make it 2-0 to Real.

That came after Ronaldo had given Real Madrid the lead racing on to a Luka Modric pass and finding the far corner in just the third minute.

But Madrid suffered against bottom club Rayo who scored twice in the second half and threatened to make a mockery of the massive gulf in the finances of the two Madrid clubs.

‘In the second half we were a disaster defensively,’ said coach Carlo Ancelotti. ‘This is not the first time this has happened and we will need to change our attitude.’

Of Bale’s assists former Real Madrid Sporting Director Jorge Valdano said afterwards: ‘It wasn’t just a case of putting the ball into the danger area, he put it on Benzema’s head. Left footed players are usually very left-footed but not Bale.’ But Bale’s fine form and his brilliant linking with Ronaldo will do little to mask another poor defensive performance from Real Madrid. Rayo Vallecano operate on a budget of just under 8m euros; Real Madrid’s is 520 and although they followed the script with that early goal they had to suffer for their three points.

Rayo recently became the first team in four years to have more possession in a match than Barcelona earlier this season and they had more of the ball in the first half.

After Ronaldo’s opening goal Xabi Alonso, starting his first game since the Spanish Cup final last May, was shown the yellow card and Full-back Dani Carvajal joined him in the book for pulling back Iago Falque. The on-loan Tottenham winger then had the ball in the net shortly after as he met Lass’ cross at the far post only to see the linesman’s flag raised because Jonathan Viera had got a touch from an off-side position.

Bale then had his first opportunity to show his worth and he took it perfectly. Xabi Alonso won the ball in midfield and sent him racing away from Rayo defender Nacho before sending over the perfect cross for Benzema to head home. Madrid were forced to make a change just before half-time with Fabio Coentrao nursing an ankle knock replaced by Marcelo.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team play Juventus on Tuesday, looking to wrap-up qualification after winning their first three games and there were more concerned looks on the Real Madrid bench when Benzema took a knock on the right knee and hobbled off at half-time for treatment. La Liga’s bottom club Rayo had dominated possession but with the Bale and Ronaldo threatening on the break and Alonso back directing operations from midfield Real still looked in control of the result if not the game.

The former Liverpool midfielder could also been seen barking instructions in English to Bale during the first half. In the second half Bale set-up Ronaldo for Madrid’s third and his victim, defender Arbilla, was immediately taken off. He sat head in hands on the bench with Real now surely home and dry.

But Xabi Alonso had been taken off at half-time in only his first start for five months and Madrid fell apart spectacularly in the space of three minutes with Pepe and Marcelo conceding two penalties both scored by Vieira.

Carvajal was then lucky not to be shown a second yellow as Rayo poured forward roared on by their old three-sided stadium. Diego Lopez pushed one shot from Adri Embarba on to his post as Madrid tried desperately to release Bale and Ronaldo on the counter attack and get the ball as far away from their brittle defence as possible. They held on for the three points and they had Ronaldo and Bale — completing his second full match in four days — largely to thank for the win.

— Daily Mail