Tottenham maintained their 100 per cent start to the season as Roberto Soldado scored the winner from the penalty spot for the second successive week.
But Bale was not present for the victory as he was pictured 1,000 miles away in Marbella.
Some of Tottenham's players sit on the back row of the bench during games at White Hart Lane, but Real Madrid target Bale was not there on Sunday.
"We allowed him two days off," Villas-Boas said.
"It's not the first time this has come up. We never force non-selected players to come to our games. I decided that last season."
Bale has been linked with Madrid all summer, but if the two clubs do not agree a deal by Monday then Villas-Boas expects the 24-year-old to be back at the Spurs training ground on Tuesday for treatment on the foot injury which has supposedly prevented him from playing for the north London club.
"There is interest from Real Madrid. Whether the transfer will happen or not, hopefully you will have more news in the next couple of days but at the moment there is nothing I can tell you," Villas-Boas added.
"Tomorrow is a day off. Tuesday is training so I would expect him to be there."
Spurs have scored seven times in the three matches they have been without Bale, but they could have done with their star man on the field on Sunday.
Source: PA
Source: PA