La Liga: Bale rescues Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale shoots a penalty to score against Cordoba during their Spanish First Division soccer match at El Arcangel stadium in Cordoba, January 24, 2015. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo (SPAIN - Tags: SPORT SOCCER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Gareth Bale scored a late winner from the penalty spot after Cristiano Ronaldo had been sent off for the ninth time in his career as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Cordoba 2-1.

Barcelona remained just a point behind the European champion having played a game more as Neymar and Lionel Messi both scored twice in a 6-0 win at 10-man Elche.

The results:

La Liga: On Sunday: Deportivo la Coruna 2 (Rodriguez 34, Perez 38) drew with Granada 2 (Piti 7, Ibanez 83).

On Saturday: Cordoba 1 (Gilas 2-pen) lost to Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 27, Bale 88-pen); Elche 0 lost to Barcelona 6 (Pique 35, Messi 55-pen, 88, Neymar 69, 72, Pedro 90+3); Atletico Madrid 3 (Griezmann 12, 22, Manucho 56-og) bt Rayo Vallecano 1 (Trashorras 35); Real Sociedad 1 (Xabi Prieto 56) bt Eibar 0; Villarreal 1 (Vietto 56) bt Levante 0.