MADRID — Gareth Bale provided a brilliant assist on his return from two months out with injury as Real Madrid advanced to the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. The Welsh forward delivered a sensational cross for the first of Borja Mayoral's two goals in a 2-2 draw with third-tier Fuenlabrada at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Zinedine Zidane's team won 4-2 on aggregate. Fuenlabrada, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, threatened to cause a famous upset when Luis Milla fired them ahead on the night in the first half, but Mayoral struck twice following Bale's introduction on the hour. Alvaro Portilla leveled late on for the visitors but Real took their place in the next round alongside Celta Vigo, Levante and Leganes, while La Liga strugglers Malaga crashed out following a 3-2 aggregate loss to second-division Numancia. Much-criticized for his inconsistent form and long injury absences, Bale was for a change declared Real Madrid's hero on Wednesday after saving a young side from an embarrassing Copa del Rey loss. Bale prevents a disaster, read Madrid sports daily Marca's front page after Bale, in his first appearance for two months. It has been a testing year for Bale, the world's most expensive player when Real splashed out just over 100 million euros ($119 million) to bring him to Spain in 2013. Bale has completed 90 minutes with Real just four times since injuring ankle ligaments against Sporting Lisbon in November 2016. A series of calf problems followed, which meant he had to settle for a place on the bench on his homecoming to Cardiff for the Champions League final when Real thrashed Juventus 4-1 in June. However, his ability to score and create has been missed in the early part of this season as Madrid have fallen eight points behind Barcelona in La Liga and are doomed to finish second to Bale's old club Tottenham Hotspur in Champions League Group H. Really enjoyed being back out there, and even better to get through to the next round, Bale tweeted after the match. Bale returned in