And Bale, at last, appeared at the Bernabéu and everything indicates that it will not be the last time. The Welshman had not appeared at the white coliseum since February 26, 2020. A first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against City in pre-pandemic times (1-2). That was the Cardiff’s last clash in ‘his’ stadium. Until this Saturday against Getafe. The fans were judge, jury and almost all executioners in Gareth’s return. He came on in minute 74, to rest Benzema. As a center forward, as Ancelotti’s declaration of intent. If many thought that he would not need even a dropper to bring together his appearances with the white team here at the end of his contract on June 30, his coach has other plans. Carletto has turned Bale into his guard ‘9’.
For sample, several buttons. Far are those first three league days against Alavés, Levante and Betis, where Bale and Hazard escorted Benzema in the attacking trident. Bale appeared as a right winger in those drawings, even scoring his only goal of the course as a madridista (with Wales he has five and an assist) against the granotas. Since then he has disputed two Champions League matches (first leg against PSG and Chelsea) and two League matches (Villarreal and Getafe). In all four there is a common denominator: he has played as a ‘9’.
the real alternative
It’s not many minutes, 97′, but it’s significant. And it is that on the only occasion of the four that there was no other alternative was this last one against the Geta. Jovic has discomfort in his right ankle since the last break, while Mariano disappeared of the call at the last minute. “He was not feeling well,” Ancelotti said. before the set yellow He was a starter and he fulfilled, although he did not score, in the absence of Benzema. On the bench? Jovic, who replaced him in the second half.
In the Parc des Princes, with a shaky Karim, the last minutes as striker went to Gareth, while the Serbian was left to zero, as a wardrobe fund. Like Mariano, when Ancelotti considered that Benzema had done enough after his vaunted hat-trick and Stamford Bridge. As well as had a good number of ballots to repeat the play of Ceramics in The classicbut bale it got deleted of the confrontation against Barça due to some discomfort that two days later was buried in his first training session with Wales. And on the fourth day he locked them up, double to Alaba’s Austria through.
His talent is indisputable, but it is his commitment to Madrid that installed the Philharmonic in the stands of the Bernabéu when he took the field against Getafe. The ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order’flag in hand, celebrating the classification of their dragons to the European Championship, he did a lot of damage. just like that miraculous recovery postClassic. But, contrary to common belief, the one that ventured a few final months of spa to prepare the final assault on the World Cup with Wales (they will play in June against the winner of the Ukraine-Scotland, postponed due to the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory), Bale, perhaps even to his own surprise, still has a job with Real Madrid.
More than 100 goals
Ancelotti is aware that, Benzema apart, the footballer with the most goals in his squad is Bale. Jovic has scored three goals in 49 games with the white team. Mariano, 11 in 69. Publicly, even acknowledging that he understands the whistles of the fans, the one from Reggiolo has given the cardifian a couple of pats on the back. “He is ready to play, he wants to finish well at this club. Going to the Bernabéu would be deserved and fair. He has had problems, he has not played lately but he has entered the history of this club with his goals and his triumphs”, said the Italian in the previous one against Getafe, hinting at his intentions. If the Serb and the Hispanic-Dominican are accompanied by physical problems in the decisive stretch of the season, the doubt ceases to be, if it was, existential.
This season only adds a little, but the numbers of the former Cardiff Express are bombastic. 106 goals and 67 assists in 257 games for Madrid. Surpassing even the ones he gave away to the fans spur in his double stage in London (72 goals and 61 assists in 237 games: part of them, yes, as a side). He has inscribed his name in gold letters at key moments, establishing himself as a footballer with sparks of thunder: the gallop against Bartra in the Cup final against Barça, his header in the Lisbon final or his brace in 2018 against Liverpool. Ancelotti is aware that this player is far away, but, at the moment of truth, he is showing that the first alternative to Benzema is not Jovic or Mariano. He is a Gareth Bale who could go on trial again on Tuesday against Chelsea…