Real Madrid vs. Schalke: Gareth Bale Allegedly Verbally Abused by Madrid Fans

Gareth Bale was reportedly verbally abused by Real Madrid fans after his side's 4-3 Champions League defeat to Schalke on Tuesday.

Despite progressing to the quarter-finals with a 5-4 aggregate score, Madrid fans were seen to be waving white handkerchiefs in protest of the team's performance, which extended their winless run to three.

Matt Morlidge of the MailOnline shared a video from Spanish publication AS, which allegedly shows Bale being insulted as he drove away from the stadium. MailOnline provided detail:

Bale was jeered by Madrid fans in January after failing to play a simple pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, who could have slotted into an open net during the side's 3-0 win over Espanyol, per Liam Corless of the Mirror.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

He was one of many poor Madrid performers during the Schalke defeat, proving sloppy all over the pitch. The former Tottenham Hotspur star completed just 79 percent of his passes, failed to complete a dribble and hit the target with two of his four attempts on goal, per WhoScored.com.

More prominently, he didn't find a team-mate with any of his five crosses, nor did he make a tackle, interception or clearance. Despite Bale's explosive goalscoring power leading Madrid to Copa del Rey and Champions League victories last season, he has now gone nine games without a successful strike.

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague believes the targeting of Bale is unfair, although he also suggests the player needs to increase his work-rate:

"

If there are no goals he should be doing more. That’s what everybody expects and to be honest they are treating him a little bit like a scapegoat or the villain of this story. That is surprising, but in any case it should actually challenge him and make him better at the end of it.

"

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Former Spurs striker Gary Lineker suggested it is make-or-break time for the 25-year-old:

Interestingly, Israel national coach Eli Guttman believes Bale is "saving himself" for Wales' upcoming fixture against his side, per BBC Sport: "The level of the miles he does and the level of his commitment to the national team is nothing like how he plays for Real Madrid."

Morlidge reports Bale wasn't the only player to receive verbal abuse. He indicates midfielder Sami Khedira—a player who has struggled with injuries in recent times—was told to "go to Schalke, dog." It's even suggested one supporter told the German World Cup winner to "die."

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Such reports are likely to see Bale linked with Manchester United more feverishly than usual. He continues to be touted for a move to the Old Trafford club, per Luke Edwards of The Telegraph. Louis van Gaal's side could desperately use his explosive pace and power along the flank, and it's rare for British crowds to boo one of their own during a bout of poor form.

Huge responsibility comes with a world-record £85 million transfer fee. Madrid supporters are used to marvelling at the sport's best players, so any downturn in Bale's form has the capacity to produce something of an overzealous reaction.

Things don't appear to be getting any easier for the ex-Southampton man. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the crowd in the coming weeks, particularly with Mar. 22's Clasico rapidly approaching. A poor performance against Barcelona could tip the scale for Bale, boss Carlo Ancelotti and many of Madrid's stars.