Real Madrid: 3 Things To Watch For vs. Espanyol

Real Madrid are coming in off a dominant performance vs Napoli in the Champions League Wednesday winning 3-1. The game was a real eye opener for a lot of reasons and with an upcoming match vs Espanyol, there’s quite a few things to look out for. Here’s 3 key things to watch for tomorrow’s game.

Gareth Bale’s Return

Madridistas have been awaiting the return of the welshman for some time now. Originally thought to be match fit for the Napoli match, Zidane decided to give him some extra time to rest. Earlier today, we reported about his inclusion in the squad for the Espanyol game.

“Bale is an important player. We know his quality, his speed, the damage he can cause the opposition. I’m happy to have him but he’s even happier to be back with the team and ready to play.” -Zinedine Zidane

Bale is considered one of the best players in the world, ranking 6th place in the 2016 Ballon d’Or voting. He’s easily the fastest player on the team and is deadly on the counter attack. He is also deadly in the box with his heading and shooting abilities.

With 10 goals and 3 assists across all competitions this season, it’s obvious why Zidane is happy to have him back.

While many are hoping to see him star the full 90 minutes, its more likely that he’ll be subbed in later in the match. But if this season has taught us anything, its that a few minutes is all it takes to score.