Cordoba 1-2 Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo sent off but Bale saves the day
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on an awful afternoon for the Real Madrid striker, but Gareth Bale slotted home a late spot kick to scrape the three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Cordoba got off to a flying start when Bebe's strike was handballed by Sergio Ramos in the area. Nabil Ghilas slammed the penalty into the top right corner.
La Liga's minnows had endured a torrid start to the season, with manager Albert Ferrer sacked and Miroslav Djukic replacing him.
After they were hammered by Barcelona at Camp Nou, the coach laid into his men, saying: "My players came to this game to take photos and ask for shirts. It hurts to see Iniesta playing with more aggression than us.
"In the future we will play those players that have balls, those that have got the bit between their teeth, that are up for it. If we don't have that bit between our teeth, then there is little we can do about it."
In the weeks since, his side have taken seven points from nine, and there were plenty of balls on display here.
Karim Benzema pulled Real Madrid level close to half-time, stabbing in from close range after a scramble in the box.
With Isco out of action, Sami Khedira started the game, and he didn't help much in a surprisingly even battle, before he was hooked for Asier Illarramendi.
Cordoba nearly struck again, with Iker Casillas making a save after a wonderful Bebe run. The Manchester United reject caused plenty of problems with his dribbling.
Meanwhile, Fede Cartabia was causing havoc among the Los Blancos defence.
Ronaldo was becoming increasingly frustrated and punched out at Cordoba's Crespo, before then being sent off for kicking Edimar.
But a handball from a Bale free-kick moments later saw Real Madrid awarded a penalty, and Cartabia sent off, and the same player slotted it home to hand them an underserved three points.
