Who should Real Madrid start in the final: Isco or Bale?

Real Madrid have booked their place to the Champions League final in Cardiff, where they will square off against Juventus on June 3^rd. Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane faces one huge selection dilemma: who should start in the final, Isco or Bale? Alex McVey weighs the pros and cons of each.

Gareth Bale and Isco Alarcon’s 2017 could not have gone any differently. Gareth Bale struggled to regain form after returning from injury, only to go down hurt again in El Clásico.

Isco, on the other hand, has been simply majestic for Madrid. After failing to secure a locked down place in Zidane’s starting 11 for much of 2016, Isco filled in in Bale’s absence and has made a huge impact. Isco single-handedly rescued 3 points for Madrid against Gijón, and scored the goal that put the tie beyond Atleti’s reach in the return leg of the Champions League semifinal.

When Gareth Bale is fit, he’s an undroppable player in Zidane’s set-up. And given the magnitude of the event – a Champions League final in his home country of Wales – you can understand why there might be pressure on Zidane to give Bale the nod.

Unfortunately, with the form that Isco is in, the young Spaniard might also be making a case that Zidane cannot afford to leave him out.

There are really good arguments to be made for either player.

Ed Alvarez of ESPN FC argues that Bale should take Isco’s place in the starting lineup against Juventus. His reasoning all comes down to the on-pitch match-up it would create against Juve’s Dani Alves.

The former Barcelona right-back has become one of Juventus’ most important players, and his two-way role is integral to the success of their side. For Alvarez, Bale would cause Alves so much trouble that it would functionally neutralize the right-back’s ability to contribute effectively to Juve’s overall game –plan:

"Few players seem as threatening on the left wing as Bale when he’s in shape. His speed, his crossing and his shooting can frustrate the best defenders, and of course should keep Alves quite busy. Preventing the Brazilian from participating in the match and taking advantage of one of his occasional defensive lapses would justify that Zidane used Bale from the beginning. Asensio and Isco would then become options to change things off the bench if necessary."

Without a doubt, Bale adds something to the squad that Isco simply does not. Bale’s freakish athleticism, his extreme pace, his capacity to deliver thunderbastards from way-out into the back of opposing nets, and his under-rated defensive work all provide tactical resources that are distinct from what Isco has to offer.

Additionally, Isco is often criticized for keeping the ball too long and attempting to dribble out of tight situations, ultimately losing the ball when he could have instead simply circulated possession. Bale’s incredible football IQ and his decisiveness on the ball could be a reason to prefer Bale over Isco.

However, there are also strong arguments for picking Isco over Bale.

First of all, if you’re going on the basis of current form, starting Isco ahead of Bale is an easy choice. Isco is, according to the player himself, in the form of his life. He has been integral to the last month of Real Madrid’s title chase.

Bale, on the other hand, was struggling to find his best form upon returning to injury. Despite scoring in his first match back from injury, Bale’s contributions to the team dropped in the games leading up to his return to the injury list.

From a tactical perspective, Isco offers Madrid something different from Bale. Specifically, it allows Zidane to pack the midfield, giving Madrid a sense of control that is often lacking when the full B-B-C (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) starts in a 4-3-3.

The diamond-midfield formation puts Casemiro as a holding midfielder, with Isco playing in a free-roaming no. 10 position behind Benzema and Ronaldo. The packed midfield also frees up Modrić and Kroos to do more of the box-to-box midfield duties that they are known for.

One of the hallmarks of Zidane’s tactics this season is his reliance on full-backs to play crosses in from out wide, often resulting in a lack of penetration in the center of the pitch. And although this Juventus team isn’t the best at defending crosses, it may still behoove Zidane’s men to have a Plan-B when going up against one of the best defensive squads in the world.

So, at the end of the day, who should start for Real Madrid in Cardiff?

I, along with the majority of Real Madrid fans who were asked in a Marca poll, believe that the bandy-legged beauty Isco Alarcon should be trusted to begin the match for Los Blancos.

If Zidane were to start Bale, he would run the risk of repeating the same embarrassing fate that befell Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone in the 2014 Champions League final

If Zidane were to start Bale, he would run the risk of repeating the same embarrassing fate that befell Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone in the 2014 Champions League final against Real Madrid.

There, Simeone decided to start Diego Costa despite ongoing concerns about the striker’s fitness. Much like Bale against Barcelona, the striker went down injured and was forced off the pitch after just a few minutes of play. Simeone was forced to burn one of his substitutes nine minutes into the match. When the time came for an intense period of extra-time, Simeone could only draw on two additional substitutions.

The tired legs of Atleti were eventually ran down by a rampant Real Madrid side, who were able to substitute none other than Isco Alarcon. Madrid then put three goals on the board in extra-time, a scoreline that while flattering, was decisive nonetheless.

Putting Bale on the bench would result in the opposite scenario.

Rather than risking burning a substitution early, it would provide Zidane with a world-class substitution on the bench. Bale’s pace and ferocity could terrorize a tired Juventus squad if he were to come on late into the match.

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Additionally, while Isco’s free-roaming attacking midfield role allows him to run circles around opposition defenders, it often leaves him exhausted after about 60 minutes of play. Isco has a tendency to fade out of matches in the dying minutes.

Zidane should have Bale ready as the first man off the bench once Isco looks like he is getting gassed. This would allow Bale to come on to huge applause to the home-town crowd in Cardiff, but wouldn’t risk taking a huge gamble that might require an early sub.

Regardless of what Zidane chooses, Madrid fans should be delighted to know that they have world-class players both in the starting lineup and on the bench.

Stay tuned to The Real Champs for more news about the upcoming Champions League Final against Juventus on June 3rd, 2017.