Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for violent melee, but Gareth Bale rescues Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for lashing out at Edimar as Real Madrid beat Cordoba 2-1 thanks to a dramatic late Gareth Bale penalty.

Cordoba took an early lead when Bebe fired a shot from distance against the arms of Sergio Ramos, and the referee awarded a penalty. Nabil Ghilas calmly converted from the spot.

Real struggled to create many chances in response, but Karim Benzema equalised after stabbing home Gareth Bale’s flick-on from a James Rodriguez corner.

In the second half, Cordoba continued to play brightly, despite gradually dropping deeper, and they almost took the lead against when Florin Andone lifted a volley over the head of Iker Casillas, only to see his effort bounce off the crossbar.

Real Madrid went close when Juan Carlos saved Benzema’s shot from the left, but minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo saw red for kicking out at Edimar after the two tussled for a cross, and also became involved with Jose Angel Crespo.

Minutes later, Bale won a penalty when Federico Cartabia was given a second yellow after he handballed his free kick. He fired his shot down the middle to win the game with minutes to spare.

1’ - PENALTY TO CORDOBA! Ramos blocks a shot from outside the box, just inside the area, and it strikes his arm as he turns his back on the goal.

3’ - GOAL! Cordoba 1-0 Real Madrid. Ghilas scores: He jogs conspicuously slowly towards goal and sidefoots a shot into the top corner.

19’ - BEBE HITS THE POST: Bebe has room inside the box and his shot clips just off the box.

27’ - GOAL! Cordoba 1-1 Real Madrid. Benzema scores: Rodriguez curls in a corner, glanced on by Bale, and Benzema stabs a shot into the roof of the net.

55’ - CARTABIA SHOT: Sergio Ramos loses out to Cartabia with a weak challenge on the right, and the striker charges forward into the space and fires a shot just wide of goal.

68’ - FLORIN HITS THE BAR: Varane slips, and the ball bounces for Florin as Casillas rushes out. He lifts the ball over the keeper, and the ball bounces off the crossbar as Ramos and Carvajal scarper back.

79’ - CARLOS SAVE: Benzema has room from outside the box to try to curl a shot into the low far corner, and Carlos gets across well to palm away.

82’ - RONALDO SENT OFF: Ronaldo gets involved in some hot, hot banter. He kicked Edimar in the thigh in a coming together at the back post. Edimar goes to ground, clutching his face like a complete fraud. Ronaldo, though, is rightly sent off and amusingly brushes the dirt of his World Club Cup emblem on his shirt.

87’ - PENALTY AND A RED CARD! Cartabia is sent off for stick an arm up to block Bale's free kick from the right, and he gets his second yellow.

89’ - GOAL! Cordoba 1-2 Real Madrid. Bale scores: Bale sends his penalty down the middle and Carlos dives to the right and away from the ball.

Real Madrid played for the first time at Cordoba’s Neuvo Estadio El Arcangel.

Benzema has 15 goals for Real Madrid this season. Bebe had more shots than any other player (4) in the first half. (WhoScored)

Ronaldo will be suspended for Real Madrid’s game against Atletico Madrid should he receive a three-match ban.

Cristiano Ronaldo held Real Madrid back, but they will miss him against Atletico. Once he was sent off for a stupid kick, he ensured he would miss the match against his derby rivals in three games’ time. However, he may have also thrown a punch moments earlier, and could then conceivably for punished with more missed games.

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): None of the Real players especially impressed over the course of the match, but Bale had the biggest positive effect for his side. He glanced the corner for Benzema to equalise, and had the composure to convert a dramatic late penalty after winning the chance with his own free-kick.

Cordoba: Juan Carlos 6, Pantic 6, Crespo 6, Bebe 7, Florin 6, Gunino 6, Deivid 6, Edimar 6, Ghilas 6, Fede Cartabia 6, Rossi 6. Subs: Fede Vico 6.

Real Madrid: Casillas 6, Carvajal 6, Varane 5, Ramos 5, Marcelo 5, Khedira 5, Kroos 5, Rodriguez 6, Bale 7, Ronaldo 5, Benzema 6. Subs: Coentrao 6, Jese 6, Illarra 6.