Real Madrid: 5 takeaways from a 1-0 win over Real Betis on LaLiga’s Matchday 3

Gareth Bale will have more games like this

After an encouraging first game against Deportivo Alaves and an early goal in the exciting draw with Levante, Gareth Bale took a backseat on Matchday 3 at the Benito Villamarin. He was the worst player on the pitch for Real Madrid, producing his worst performance- preseason or LaLiga campaign – since returning from Tottenham.

I need to be honest in my analysis and say these critical things about Bale, because he was a step too slow and did not offer any sort of threat off the ball. Real Madrid expect a lot from their inverted wingers, and Bale could not meet those expectations.

However, I hope nobody is being reactionary and takes this performance into context. Bale is getting older and isn’t the player he once was athletically due to injuries. He is going to struggle for fitness and drift out of some matches, especially when Real Madrid are in a frenetic match pace-wise.

The good news is that Bale won’t have as many of these matches as you might think. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were both out, and they are the best in the business at controlling matches. Their returns would mean great things for Bale, as Modric is on the same side to provide that ball-carrying and combination play with Dani Carvajal. Meanwhile, we all know how much forwards benefit from Kroos’ delicious cross-field passes.