For the first time this season, Real Madrid went top of the La Liga standings this weekend after both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid lost on the road. Though Madrid labored to a 3-0 win againstlowly Elche, Gareth Bale made the night memorable with stunning goal from distance. After the game, coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team could have done better, butwas satisfied to have won, especially considering the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who was serving the final game of a three-game ban.