Champions League
The end of Gareth Bale at Real Madrid. Recall his best moments in the white jersey
The end of another great legend at Real Madrid. After Marcelo and Isco, Gareth Bale has announced his end at the Santiago Bernabéu, a man who has been behind all the successes of Los Blancos over the last decade, but who has also tarnished his reputation with his behaviour.
The end of another great legend at Real Madrid. After Marcelo and Isco, Gareth Bale has announced his end at the Santiago Bernabéu, a man who has been behind all the successes of Los Blancos over the last decade, but who has also tarnished his reputation with his behaviour.
Bale arrived at Real Madrid in 2013 for an astronomical €101 million. At the time, he was the most expensive player in the world and Los Blancos fans had high hopes for him. And he fulfilled them to a tee.
In the white jersey, he formed a BBC attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema that destroyed the defences of the opponents. In his first season in La Liga, he scored 15 goals and added 12 assists in 27 games. He added another goal in the Cup and 6 in the Champions League. And that’s where we stop.
A memorable goal off the pitch
In the 2014 Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid faced Barcelona. The 85th minute was running, the score was 1-1 and the game seemed to be heading to extra time. But on the left wing, Bale received a pass from Coentrão and dug the ball far in front of him.
Stoper Marc Bartra pushed him out of the area and the Real striker had no chance to finish the ball. But he kicked the engines and, even as he raced through the coaches’ designated sector, he still outpaced Bartra, raced alone at Pinto and scored the winning goal between his legs to make it 2-1.
The winning goal in the LM final
But the winning goal in the Copa del Rey was not the last. About a month later, Bale added another, this time in an even more valuable contest. Real Madrid pushed Atlético Madrid in the Champions League final, but the goal didn’t come. Finally, Ramos equalised in the 93rd minute and the game went into extra time.
There, Los Blancos visibly tired and mentally broken Colchoneros demolished the Colchoneros 4:1, helped by Bale. After a beautiful pass by Di Maria, Courtois still deflected the shot, but Bale headed the ball into the net and started the celebration of the coveted La Décima.
Penalty in spasms
The 2016 Champions League final, in which Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid faced off again. The match again went to extra time after a 1-1 draw, where this time we didn’t see any goals. So it was time for penalties.
Gareth Bale was already treated in extra time for cramps, which bothered him a lot after the 120-minute charge. Still, he decided to go for the penalty as he didn’t want to let the team down and took the responsibility as one of the stars. He barely made it to the whitewash due to cramps, then ran in walking and cleared the penalty to the bar.
Scissors in the final
Another moment that fans will never forget and one that made history. In the 2018 Champions League final, Real faced Liverpool, by which time Bale’s position had already started to decline and Isco was given priority in the starting line-up.
However, the Welsh striker came onto the pitch in the 61st minute at 1-1 and things were happening. Bale ran onto a fluffy ball from Marcelo and sent it into the net with an incredible scissor-kick. One of the finest goals in Champions League history.
Bale scores another winning goal in the Champions League final. A few minutes later, he added another to make it three goals in total in the final of Europe’s most famous competition, once from a penalty.
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