It has not looked like it but Real Madrid may be missing Gareth Bale more than many will want to admit and the return of the Wales forward will provide more attacking options for head coach Zidane.
Bale has been subjected to numerous negative comments by both the media and the club’s fans but his importance cannot be ruled out as he has produced numerous last gasp brilliance on a number of occasions and one that readily comes to mind is the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona when he ran all the way from the center park to the goal post -leaving Marc Bartra for dead- before slotting the goal home and another goal that came at the death against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.
In his absence since being on and off and finally missing for weeks after the group stage clash with Dortmund since September, the club have struggled in big fixtures and the left side attacking space has not been filled to date.
Now he is back but Zidane is urging caution to avoid a recurrence of the injury he said;
“The important thing is that he is with us, that he trains. That will stop all the negative things happening around him. I do not know when he will play. We will see, but he feels good and today he trained without any pain.”
