Gareth Bale Axe Demanded by Real Madrid Fan Vote After Clasico Defeat

The majority of Real Madrid fans surveyed by Spanish publication AS want Gareth Bale to be dropped from Carlo Ancelotti's lineup following Los Blancos' defeat to Barcelona.

Carlos Forjanes of AS provided grim reading for the ex-Tottenham hero after Sunday's 2-1 loss.

"Madrid fans were disappointed with the performance of the Welshman," Forjanes writes, "and 68.3 percent of them want him out of the starting line-up according to a survey of 8,532 supporters on AS.com, answering 'Would you keep Bale in Madrid’s starting line-up?'

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This vote comes as the latest blow to a player who simply cannot escape the headlines right now. Bale's performances are under intense scrutiny—perhaps the side effect of becoming the world's costliest player at £85 million—and Forjanes believes he is the individual whose reputation suffered the "most damage" following Madrid's defeat at the Camp Nou.

AS previously refused to give him a match rating after the Barca defeat, per La Liga specialist Nicholas Rigg:

Bale was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for offside in the first half. He showed plenty of energy along the flank but was ultimately out-battled by Jordi Alba, a player he should be able to physically dominate. Squawka Football highlighted his lack of involvement after the break:

Considering Bale posted a pass accuracy of 57 percent and had the lowest number of touches for any outfield player who racked up 90 minutes, per WhoScored.com, Madrid fans who want to see him axed will be having a field day.

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Bale was previously on the receiving end of jeers after he failed to set Cristiano Ronaldo up with a simple goal in January's win over Espanyol. Marca suggested president Florentino Perez "paid €100 million for someone worth €20 million" in the aftermath of the Clasico, per Andy Murray of FourFourTwo.

Reports of the player's car being attacked as he returned to Madrid's Valdebebas training facility following the match also surfaced. AS reported a "complicated return" and suggested some supporters waited to make their feelings known.

Rigg tweeted an image of the alleged incident:

Madrid confirmed they "will take any applicable legal action against the individuals responsible," reported by BBC Sport. Jese Rodriguez, a player who could replace Bale in Ancelotti's lineup, was also said to be targeted.

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Despite his indifferent form, Bale remains an important player for Madrid. He stretches play in the opposition's half, usually fulfilling a dynamic attacking role to the right and inside the area.

Against Barca, he failed to keep up with many of the side's forays forward and couldn't provide support in the vital areas, with Forjanes suggesting he "did not step foot in the area from the 46th minute to the final whistle."

Ancelotti previously outlined Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema as "non-negotiable" fixtures in his team, reported by Ben Hayward of Goal.com.

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He isn't the type of manager to relent to pressure, particularly as dropping Bale would most likely revert Madrid to 4-4-2. Extra caution could be provided with an additional midfielder, but there's always the chance this type of setup would eliminate the side's swashbuckling offensive play.

Bale certainly needs to up his form quickly to halt assessment of his tenure. He is a world-class player who is capable of doing more but can rightly feel the lack of support is harsh after he delivered goals in the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals last season.

It could be a case of supporters not realising what they've got until Bale is no longer selected, or indeed, moves on out of frustration.