Dependency on Bale continues to haunt Real Madrid ahead of Sociedad clash

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  • When a 5″4′ Santi Cazorla arrives unmarked at the far post and heads past Thibaut Courtois, you know you’re in trouble.

    That was the former Arsenal midfielder’s second during Villarreal’s 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid as Santiago Solari’s side dropped points for the eighth time during this La Liga season.

    It was a less than ideal return to Spain following their Club World Cup triumph in UAE last month and with Gareth Bale sustaining yet another injury midway through the encounter, he continues to be the poster boy for his side’s beleaguered domestic campaign.

    PLAN BALE FAILS

    Madrid’s decision not to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer set the tone for the season and given how their campaign has unfolded so far, it’s no surprise the Portuguese’s departure for Juventus has been a constant theme.

    According to reports and teasing lines from Eden Hazard himself, Los Blancos were well-positioned to sign the Belgian star ahead of this season but presumably opted to hold out for Neymar this summer. Until then, they were meant to go to Plan B – Gareth Bale.

    If you isolate the former Tottenham star’s incredible ability and record since arriving at Santiago Bernabeu, the idea isn’t terrible.

    Bale has had some phenomenal moments in the white of Madrid already, his sensational bicycle kick goal in the Champions League final last season chief among them. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old has scored a whopping 98 goals in 212 appearances for the club, not quite Ronaldo-esque but impressive nonetheless.

    But when you factor in the Welshman’s medical history, ‘Plan Bale’ was always doomed to fail. Since his signing in 2013, the forward has suffered 16 injuries, missing 323 days and 64 competitive fixtures (according to transfermarkt.com).

    Solari ultimately put the draw at Villarreal down to Bale’s forced substitution.

    “Gareth leaving like that cost us as he had a problem and we missed that counter-attacking edge, and Gareth is a specialist at just that.”

    In actual fact, a club of Madrid’s stature should never be that reliant on a notoriously injury-prone player.

    Sidelined: Gareth Bale.

    Sidelined: Gareth Bale.

    STRIKER SWOOP

    Bale’s foremost contributions come in the goalscoring department but he hasn’t quite met the lofty expectations of the Bernabeu faithful. The fact that Ronaldo finished as Madrid’s top scorer in 2018 despite leaving in the summer is a scathing indictment of the attacking players he left behind. Bale comes closest with 27 to his name while Karim Benzema only managed 18.

    Though the Frenchman has improved in front of goal this season, scoring 12 times so far, the demand for a prolific striker remains high. Big-money signings are traditionally completed in the summer transfer window but a new acquisition for Madrid could be borne out of necessity with back-up striker Mariano Diaz sidelined with injury as well.

    As such, Los Merengues may at least be able to steal a march on the competition by swooping for their targets in January. Timo Werner has impressed again this term and his contract with RB Leipzig is due to run out at the end of next season, firmly placing him in the shop window.

    While it’s widely expected that the German will eventually join Bayern Munich, now’s Madrid’s chance to move quickly for his services. Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi has repeatedly voiced his desire to move away from the San Siro while Bas Dost’s efficiency for Sporting Lisbon cannot be contested and the Dutchman would be something of a quick-fix for Solari.

    Leipzig hotshot: Timo Werner.

    Leipzig hotshot: Timo Werner.

    DOESN’T GET ANY ASIER

    Having dropped points to a relegation-threatened Villarreal side, it’s hard to classify what would be a comfortable game for Madrid.

    On paper, Real Sociedad’s visit should be rather straightforward for the Club World Cup winners for instance. The Basque team have lost four La Liga games on the trot and languish in 15th place, a mere three points above the drop zone.

    However, they may benefit from the ‘new manager bounce’ with Asier Garitano sacked following a result of 19 points from their first 17 matches. The man taking over is Imanol Alguacil, the club’s B team coach who has been in this position before.

    From March until May last year, he was installed as interim head coach and won five of his nine matches before returning to the B side.

    Sociedad will hope the 47-year-old can revive the first team yet again and given Madrid’s current fragility, will be targeting an upset which could galvanise them for the rest of the season.

    Sacked: Asier Garitano.

    Sacked: Asier Garitano.

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