3 Real Madrid forwards Gareth Bale is still better than
LW Eden Hazard
I could have picked Rodrygo Goes here, but I want to both relieve pressure from a young, developing player and also be cognizant of the fact that Rodrygo is not a right winger. Who knows what his ceiling would be at his best position? Furthermore, Rodrygo is able to stay on the pitch more often than Gareth Bale, so it is hard to definitively say Bale offers more.
However, I can, perhaps sadly, say with confidence that Bale is better than Eden Hazard. The Belgian is now out for the rest of the season after finally undergoing surgery, and we can only wish him the best in his recovery as he looks to get his career back on track.
When it comes to comparing these two injury-prone, former superstars, the advantage goes to Bale. Hazard can do more dribbling and work in tight spaces, and he is still a great creator, as we saw at the beginning of the season.
But Bale is just the better athlete. He is still elite in terms of physical performance when it comes to speed and strength, even as his short-area quickness has dissipated. Goals are at a premium, and as we saw for his country, Bale still brings a goal threat. A goal threat Hazard has never once offered to Real Madrid during his career at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Next. Cristiano Ronaldo's 5 most clutch goals for Portugal. dark
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On the right wing, Bale is clearly better than Hazard. But even if we compare Hazard on the left to Bale on the right, I would take Bale. He offers a lot more effort defensively and can score more goals. Those are the two things that Real need more, as Vinicius already has the ball-carrying and creative aspects covered on the left wing.