Even by football’s rash standards, it all seemed a little to quick to judge. The 24-year-old had struggled with a knock which prevented him from participating in pre-season, meaning matches against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona were, effectively, serving as his preparation for the season ahead.
That was over a month ago though and, following a golden November, Bale has, being the consummate professional he is, confounded his critics and gone a small way to demonstrating why Florentino Perez dipped so deep into his – or someone else’s – pockets.
Bale has been forming part of Madrid’s dangerous front three, alongside Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, for a number of matches now, but it was on Saturday, sans Ronaldo, that it became truly about him.
Real Valladolid were the visitors to the Bernabeu and Madrid’s No. 11 was the hero.
He scored not once, not twice but three times as Los Blancos secured a 4-0 win to move within three points of Barcelona at the table’s summit. It wasn’t just about the finishes though, it was about his role in the build up to his goals and his pinpoint pass to Benzema to set up the only goal he didn’t score that was equally as impressive.
Seven goals now sit next to his name in La Liga – coming in just seven starts and two substitute appearances – with a shot accuracy of 41 percent. On top of that he’s assisted six more goals in the league, while also scoring two times in the Champions League.
His treble on Saturday was perfect: head, right foot, left foot.
The first goal came when Diego Marino could only parry Angel di Maria’s cross and Bale headed home. Two of his 37 (out of 41 attempted) completed passes then sent Marcelo free to lay the foundations for his second and third goals. First of all the Brazilian full back’s cross was not cleared properly and Bale swept home with his right foot; Marcelo’s next effort was perfect though, and Bale finished with his left this time.
It’s taken just 13 games for his first hat-trick to arrive; he could have had more too: two shots were wide of the target, one was blocked and one was saved by Marino. Not that it mattered, three was enough.
‘El Principe de Goles’ ran Marca following the win over Valladolid – punning Gales, which is Wales in Spanish with Gol – to complete the turnaround from the ‘irrelevant’ Bale of barely five weeks ago.
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