Gareth Bale led 10-man Real Madrid to a resounding victory over Roberto Mancini’s Galatasaray, scoring a superb first half free-kick in the 4-1 win.

With Cristiano Ronaldo watching from his private box in the Bernabeu, no-one was going to stop Bale taking Real Madrid’s 37th minute free-kick. It was his first Champions League set-piece since joining for £86m in September and he buried it.

Ronaldo appeared to be on the phone as down on the pitch Bale sent the ball viciously dipping over Didier Drogba in Galatasaray’s three-man wall and Eray Iscan in the Turkish champions’ goal — Real Madrid’s Portugal star could not have done it any better himself.

Galatasaray were as embarrassingly poor as Bale-inspired Madrid were impressive. He could have put the home side ahead as early three minutes when he raced on to an Isco pass but shot just wide of Iscan’s far post. He then produced a clever flick to send Isco away as, without the focus of the injured Ronaldo and the rested Karim Benzema, Madrid’s front four interchanged at will.

This was a very young Madrid side with 20-year-old Jese in attack alongside 21-year-old Isco, and 23-year-old Asier Illaramendi partnering 21-year-old Casemiro in midfield, watched by a resting 32-year-old Xabi Alonso on the bench. But the youthful experiment lasted 26 minutes — the time it took Scottish referee William Collum to show Sergio Ramos the 17th red card of his Real Madrid career.

No-one has been sent off more in the club’s history and he had to go after brining down Umut Bulut on the edge of the area. Jese was immediately replaced by Nacho.

Collum then booked Felipe Melo who tried to even up the numbers with a lengthy protest that almost turned the card red. And from the foul Bale dipped the free-kick over a static Iscan — his first in the Champions League for Real Madrid. After Bale’s bullet came Galatasaray’s Bulut as their No 19 equalised after being put through brilliantly by Drogba.

But this was a poor display from Mancini’s side, who at no point made the extra man count. Bale could have put Madrid back in front when put through by Isco but he blasted over. As the whistle was blown for half time the ex-Tottenham man put an arm around former Arsenal rival Emmanuel Eboué. Madrid knew a point would be enough to leave them as group winners; Galatasaray’s need was greater ahead of last match play off with Juventus but there was no sign of a greater urgency.

With just 10 men, Bale led the line for Real Madrid in the second half but it was Alvaro Arbeloa who found himself in centre-forward territory on the edge of the six-yard box to put Madrid 2-1 up.

The former Liverpool defender then almost won a penalty but referee Collum booked him for a dive after he had been tripped by Gokhan Zan. Alonso came on with half an hour left to replace Casemiro and ensure Real Madrid saw out the remaining minutes keeping the ball and keeping Galatasaray chances at a minimum.

There was now no stopping Arbeloa and in another forward foray he released Isco who crossed for Angel Di Maria to score the 3-1. Iker Casillas saved brilliantly from a looping Drogba and Isco walked in the fourth.

Madrid were worth the three goal difference and Bale is starting to look worth every euro spent on him. He was Madrid’s best player on a night when they had not missed the absent Ronaldo and confirmed themselves as group winners. No-one will want them when the draw is made on December 16.

—Daily Mail