It’s somewhat difficult to know how to fairly assess Gareth Bale’s time with Real Madrid. For a player who joined the world’s wealthiest club for a record fee amid a whirlwind of hype and has maintained a place in the starting XI, using a downbeat phrase such as ‘quite good’ doesn’t feel right.
Yet that’s probably the most accurate conclusion, because although he has certainly not been a failure – beating Gary Lineker’s record as La Liga’s all-time British goalscorer is enough evidence for that – neither has he been an undoubted success.
True, there have been some memorable moments, such as his scintillating solo effort which won the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona towards the end of his first season, and his headed goal in the Champions League final a few weeks later. But Bale has also experienced plenty of lows, especially towards the end of last season when he looked horribly short of confidence and found himself powerless to do anything to prevent his team’s disappointing conclusion to the campaign – if anything, he was one of Madrid’s worst players during that dark period.
And up against the most obvious comparison, Neymar, who moved to Barcelona during the same summer, it is clear the Welshman has a long way to go before he can realistically regard his stint in Spain as a major triumph.
His biggest problem this season, however, has been injuries, with an otherwise promising few months punctuated by a series of calf strains which have limited his involvement.
Before the international break, Bale was back to fitness and looking extremely sharp as he played a full role in the 4-0 victory over Sevilla. He assisted the opener for Karim Benzema, twice hit the woodwork and then scored the third goal.
And really, that’s how it should be. As the most expensive player in history, with a guaranteed place in Madrid’s starting line-up, that kind of display should be par for the course. We should be able to expect Bale to deliver elite performances on a weekly basis, in the same way we expect it from Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, rather than being pleasantly surprised when it occasionally happens.
He has already shown that he is capable of doing it – but to really make his mark at the Bernabeu, he should be producing his best form nearly every game.
The flying winger needs to build upon his performance against Sevilla and make it a matter of routine. And, of course, there could be no better time or place for him to do exactly that than Saturday at the Nou Camp, when Los Blancos will attempt to breathe fresh life into their title challenge – and gain a measure of revenge for their humiliating loss earlier in the season – by beating Barcelona.
It is the kind of occasion when, until now, Bale has largely fallen flat. But his recent form has suggested he is finally ready to throw off the shackles and show what he can really do on a consistent basis.
If he becomes the match-winner this weekend and give Madrid a renewed sense of belief, it could be the start of something truly special.
