Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has jumped to the defence of Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale over accusations he's "selfish".

Real fans jeered Bale for failing to play in Ronaldo for an open goal in their 3-0 win at home to Espanyol on Saturday night.

Ronaldo, himself, was snapped complaining loudly in the aftermath of the move.

But he said last night: "Madrid fans are always the same. They are very intense, they show what they feel, they're not liars.

"But I think things with Gaz will be normal because they know that Gaz is a very important player for us, a key player.

"What's happened on Saturday is in the past. Sometimes I commit some mistakes too, so it's part of the business, it is part of football so I think fans will be nice to him and they should be nice to him.

"He's a key player, very important for Real Madrid and we're going to need him this year again."