Real Madrid: Gareth Bale is making a strong case to start the Champions League Final
By Ben Sundock
While many Real Madrid fans have been doubting whether Gareth Bale is worth the money to stay with the club, the Welshman has been putting in impressive performances. His recent form has been so good in fact, the forward deserves a place in the starting XI for the Champions League Final. Here is why.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not the only Real Madrid player who has caught fire in 2018. Before the turn of the year, right-winger Gareth Bale had scored just four goals and provided three assists.
Bale picked up a leg injury in the Champions League group stage match against Borussia Dortmund after scoring a fantastic goal in the first-half. He missed nearly three full months with the lingering muscle problem and was eased back into action for the FIFA Club World Cup.
But, for the last four months or so, Gareth has bagged 17 goals in La Liga and Copa Del Rey play. Despite only assisting on one goal in 2018 so far, the 28-year-old has been a huge contributor to the Real attack.
He is second behind only Ronaldo in total goals this season for Madrid and has silenced the many boo birds that plagued him at the Bernabéu during the 2016/2017 campaign.
With four goals in his last three starts in La Liga, it is clear that Gareth Bale deserves to start in the Champions League Final against Liverpool on May 26th. While Lucas Vazquez has been very good playing on the right-wing, this form warrants consideration from Zinedine Zidane.
The manager had nothing but good things to say about the forward after the 6-0 win over Celta Vigo Saturday, making it seem like he will seriously consider the Welshman for the starting XI in the final league match and the UCL Final.
“I am happy for him,” he said. “But the important thing is that we all arrive in optimal form.”
“I don’t know my team yet [for the final] but it’s better to have everyone plugged in. Then, of course, it will be a headache to select the team for the final.”
While this might put Zizou in a tough position, it is a good problem to have. Personally, I would like to see Isco, Ronaldo, and Gareth Bale start on the forward line against Liverpool. These three have been so influential in creating chances and scoring goals, they give the team the best chance of winning what could be a high scoring match.
Next: Player ratings from Real Madrid’s 6-0 thrashing of Celta Vigo
I said it during last summer’s transfer window and I will say it again heading into this summer’s transfer window: Gareth Bale still has a place in this team and should not be sold.
His current contract runs until the summer of 2022 and he has proven that if he can stay healthy over the course of a season, he can be the world-class player we all loved to watch and cheer for back in his first season in Spain in 2013/2014.
I will be shocked if Bale doesn’t start this match on May 26th. He has earned a starting role because of his recent form and Zidane deserves to give him a chance to go out and show his worth again in a huge match.