( CNN ) Real Madrid returned to winning ways Saturday with a 3-0 victory over mid-table Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu , despite playing the majority of the second half with ten men . The European champions suffered back-to-back defeats against Valencia and city rivals Atletico Madrid in the space of four days last week , bringing a club-record 22-match winning streak that began all the way back in September to an unceremonious end . But first half goals from James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale put Real well on the road to recovery here . Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao was sent off for Los Blancos at the beginning of the second half . However , Espanyol could n't take advantage of its numerical advantage . Instead , substitute Nacho Fernandez added a third for Real 15 minutes from time . It could have been even more had Bale made more of a chance when put through on goal before Nacho sealed the win . But the Welsh winger failed to square the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo who appeared to be in a better position to score . That led to jeers from the home crowd which did n't appreciate the $ 132 million man 's selfishness in front of goal . Yet after the game , Real boss Carlo Ancelotti was quick to defend Bale when speaking to reporters . `` Bale played a very good game . He had intensity , he scored , he helped in the first goal , '' said Ancelotti in quotes carried by the AFP news agency . `` It could be in this moment the fans asked for a pass to Cristiano that he did n't make because , like all strikers in front of goal , they try to score . `` We have fans that demand a lot and this is good . Bale is a fundamental player like Cristiano and that is why the fans demand more of them . '' The result means Real move four points clear at the top of the La Liga table , although that lead will be reduced by either second-placed Barcelona or third-placed Atletico Madrid which face off against one another in the Catalan capital tomorrow evening . Looking beyond that , Ancelotti will be seeking harmony in the squad as Real prepare for the second leg of their Copa Del Rey last-16-tie against city rivals Atletico on Thursday . Atletico triumphed 2-0 in the first leg at the Vicente Calderon last week and Real have n't beaten them in three attempts this season . `` We have time to prepare well , '' Ancelotti said . `` We 'll play our strongest team because we want to turn around the result of the first leg and try our best to get to the quarter-finals . `` I think everyone is waiting for this game . It is difficult for us but we are going to play our best and playing at home will help us . ''
Ten man Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 3-0 . Rodriguez , Bale and Fernandez score for European champions . - Spain win the World Cup in South Africa with a 1-0 victory over hosts.