after Bale's successful start,

Cunningham's heroics, Beckham's instant impact and a horror show for Woodgate... after Bale's successful start, we look at how other Brits fared on their debuts at Real

It's fair to say it was a dream start for Gareth Bale, netting a first-half equaliser to get him off the mark as a Real Madrid player.

While the world's most expensive player had a ball, other Britons who have done even better than the Welshman, and some who simply had a nightmare (see Woodgate, Jonathan).

Sportsmail looks at the players from this country in Madrid and how they got on during their bow at the club.

Bale Madrid: Former Tottenham winger Gareth Bale enjoys his debut goal with a trademark celebration, but how did the other Britons in Madrid fare on their debuts?

 

LAURIE CUNNINGHAM, 1979 - 84
Appearances: 44
Goals: 13
Debut: Sept 9, 1979, Real Madrid 3 Valencia 1
Current Spain manager Vicente del Bosque, who was a team-mate, said: 'Real thought he was as good as Ronaldo.' The first Englishman to join Real, Cunningham scored twice and set up a third on a stunning debut. He died in a crash in 1989.

What a start: Laurie Cunningham, playing for Real Madrid against Liverpool above, scored twice and set up a third on his debut against Valencia

STEVE MCMANAMAN 1999-2003

Appearances: 96
Goals: 8
Debut: Aug 22, 1999, Real Mallorca 1 Real Madrid 2
Marked his debut as a sub by laying on the win for Fernando Morientes. McManaman loved his time in Madrid. 'I learnt new things, as a player and an individual. It made me a better person.'

'Madrid made me a better person': Steve McManaman marked his La Liga bow with an assist

DAVID BECKHAM, 2003-07
Appearances: 116
Goals: 13
Debut: Aug 30, 2003, Real Madrid 2 Real Betis 1
Scored in the eighth-minute to defy critics who said he was just signed to sell shirts. 'I just want people to see me as a hard-working footballer,' Beckham commented.

Critics silenced: Beckham was quick to get Madridista's on his side with a goal after just eight minutes on debut

Jonathan Woodgate, 2004-07
Appearances: 9
Goals: 0
Debut: Sept 22, 2005, Real Madrid 3 Athletic Bilbao 1
Jinxed Woody waited a year to play for Los Blancos because of injuries. It wasn't worth the wait: he was sent off but not before managing to score an own goal. 'It took me a while to make my debut because of injury and it didn't go well,' he said.

Nightmare: Injury-plagued defender Jonathan Woodgate reacts after scoring an own goal...

Oops: Before being ushered off the field by Beckham after a red card

MICHAEL OWEN, 2004-05

Appearances: 36
Goals: 16
Debut: Aug 29, 2004, Real Mallorca 0 Real Madrid 1
Another injury-prone Englishman, Owen was more successful in his opening season. He made the only goal of the game for Ronaldo after coming on as a sub. 'I think for any player going from here to Spain, it's a lot different to how you first imagine it,' Owen said.

Tricky: Michael Owen wasn't on the field long, but still managed to set up Ronaldo on a difficult debut