A Gareth Bale header and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty gave Real Madrid a much-needed 2-0 victory over Eibar in La Liga yesterday, following their hammering by leaders Barcelona the weekend before, and put them six points off the top of the standings.

The Welshman notched up his first goal since the end of August when he nodded in a Luka Modric cross two minutes before half-time against the small Basque club who have surprised this season and went into the game with one defeat from eight matches.

Real were made to work hard against a battling Eibar but Ronaldo secured the win with a penalty after 82 minutes following a foul by Dani Garcia on Lucas Vazquez.

The win eases the pressure on coach Rafa Benitez following defeats in La Liga against Sevilla and in the ‘Clasico’ where they lost 4-0.

Third-placed Real Madrid now have 27 points from 13 games, two behind Atletico Madrid, while Barca have 33 points.

Getafe’s Angel Lafita scored one goal and set up another in a 2-0 victory over misfiring Villarreal, who now have just one win in seven La Liga matches.

Villarreal have lost their way after a bright start to the season and lie sixth on 21 points, behind Deportivo La Coruna on goal difference, while Getafe are 13th and level with Rayo Vallecano on 14 points.

In a scrappy start Villarreal were centimetres away from taking the lead with a Manu Trigueros shot coming off Nahuel Leiva and hitting the crossbar, and then Nahuel volleyed wide in front of goal having been set up by Samu Garcia.

Getafe were more clinical with Lafita coming off the left wing and firing low into the corner after 21 minutes and he set up Alvaro Vazquez to score the second goal from close range six minutes into the second half.