Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has hailed the free-kick ability of Gareth Bale.

Friedel reckons Bale's free-kicks are every goalkeeper's nightmare. The Spurs stopper admits one false move and you are dead because of the technique and power he puts behind the ball.

Friedel explained: "I just watched the first one against Lyon. Because there's no spin on the ball the way Gareth hits it, you have to take your first step from the first movement of the ball.

"And I'm afraid that's to the goalkeeper's left and he moved left. And once he's done that he's dead. If there's no spin on the ball and then mid-flight it goes the opposite way, there's no way to train your eye to deal with that.

"You just then have to react the best you can.

"If someone tries to bend it over the wall with spin on the ball then you know which way it's going to go unless it deflects.

"The pace and power that he has is up there with the very best in the world. But he works a lot on his free-kicks, he is perfecting that style of free-kick.

"And I tell you, it is so difficult to save. Pepe Reina had all sorts of troubles when we played Liverpool, it's such a difficult ball to deal with. And it's great that he has that in his repertoire for us.

"The second one I've not seen from behind the goal yet, I've only seen it from the side.

"I assume the exact same movement on the ball occurred and, if so, it's really difficult to save.

"And again, from my standpoint it's really difficult to lay blame on a goalkeeper."