Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale Bangs Free Kick Off Post, Into Goal Vs. Espanyol (GIF)

Real Madrid didn’t need all 11 players to beat Espanyol Barcelona on Saturday. The Spanish giant has Gareth Bale in its galaxy of stars.

Bale scored a stunning free-kick goal in the first half of Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Espanyol in La Liga (Spain’s first division). Bale regularly scores spectacular goals, and this one was among his very best.

Real Madrid was already up 1-0 in the 28th minute when Bale hit a powerful free kick from 25 yards out, which cleared the wall, dipped, bounced off the post and went into the goal. Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla had no chance at stopping Bale’s drive.

Gareth Bale goal Real Madrid Espanyol

Bale’s goal gave Real Madrid the cushion it needed to absorb Fabio Coentrao’s second-half dismissal. Real Madrid cruised to victory and maintained its lead atop the La Liga standings.

The goal was Bale’s 12th in 25 games (in all competitions) this season. The Welshman is enjoying a stellar second season in Spain, and rumors of Manchester United’s ongoing interest in his services aren’t diverting his focus from the task at hand.