Bale's blast helps Madrid beat Elche 3-0

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gareth Bale scored from a blistering long-range strike to help Real Madrid win its third straight game without Cristiano Ronaldo 3-0 against Elche on Saturday, provisionally giving it sole lead of the Spanish league.

With Ronaldo finishing a three-game suspension, Madrid turned to midfielder Asier Illarramendi to open the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 34th minute.

Bale then squashed Elche's timid second-half surge with a blast from about 25 meters in the 72nd before substitute Isco Alarcon sealed the victory in the 81st.

"I said 'My goodness, what a goal' when I saw the ball pass by," Madrid fullback Dani Carvajal said.

Madrid's win lifted it three points ahead of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Barcelona visited Real Sociedad late, while Atletico travels to Osasuna on Sunday.

Madrid will visit Schalke 04 on Wednesday in the Champions League final 16 enjoying an unbeaten streak of 26 games in all competitions. Madrid then plays at crosstown rival Atletico next weekend in a highly anticipated league meeting.

Celta Vigo fought back for a 1-1 draw at home against 10-man Getafe to leave the visitors winless in the last 10 rounds.

Getafe's Angel Lafita scored in the 20th, but Lisandro Lopez received his second booking in the 52nd and Celta midfielder Rafina Alcantara continued to shine by scoring seven minutes later.

Rafina fended off two defenders dribbling to his left before he sliced the ball low and inside the post to keep Celta unbeaten in five rounds and in the middle of the standings. Celta's Manuel "Nolito" Agudo sent the ball off the woodwork in injury time.

Elche opted to sit back and try to limit Madrid's scoring chances in the first half, and the strategy largely worked except for Karim Benzema's early effort in the third minute and Angel Di Maria's corner kick that curled off the crossbar in the 10th.

But Illarramendi broke through when he chested down a deflected corner kick and fired in a right-footed strike from beyond the box.

Elche changed tact after halftime and went looking for the equalizer, with midfielder Alberto Rivera and forward Carles Gil managing to threaten Madrid's area as the visitors claimed their share of possession.

But Bale, who was having a discreet outing, responded with a superb strike to secure the three points.

The Wales winger received the ball unmarked outside the area, sized up the goal, and unleashed a dipping strike that goalkeeper Manuel Herrera barely grazed before it hit the underside of the bar and bounced in. Bale then went close a second time when he steered the ball just by the upright.

"Bale didn't have confidence before his great goal," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "Later, he was a different player. He was regular before the goal and fantastic after."

It was Bale's 10th league goal and 12th overall since coming from Tottenham on a world-record 100 milllion euros transfer last summer.

Isco, who has struggled to find playing time of late, netted from a tight angle after being set up by Benzema.

Malaga visited Almeria also later.