The plan was for Gareth Bale to be withdrawn early but his team needed him and he eventually emerged victorious having led a rescue mission. Just as importantly he also emerged fit and ready for tonight’s visit to Manchester, despite having sat out the previous game with a calf strain and then been forced to complete ninety minutes in the pouring rain.
The Real Madrid forward insisted he was fine and dismissed suggestions that his injury had been due to playing golf in southern Spain.
With Cristiano Ronaldo out and Karim Benzema forced off early in the first half, Bale led Madrid back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon, keeping their chances of the winning the league alive.
Defeat, or even a draw, would have virtually ended any hope of taking the title but two goals from Bale, including the winner 10 minutes from time, keeps them a single point behind Atlético and Barcelona with three games left.
Bale had scored against Getafe a week previous but was withdrawn in the second half as a precaution because of discomfort in his calf. Two days later he trained alone and had to pull out of the squad to face Villarreal on Wednesday night, amidst reports that he had spent the Sunday between the Getafe match and Monday’s training session playing thirty-six holes of golf in southern Spain, where he had been watching the Spanish Open at Valderrama. Zinedine Zidane was reportedly unimpressed and some in the media were critical.
Asked on Saturday whether he had indeed played, Bale replied: “I’m not going to tell you that. I’m not going to say any more.” But he did insist: “There’s no problem with golf. I went to train on [last] Monday and that’s when I felt something. It’s something that happens all the time with footballers. I returned to training on the Thursday and I was fine and that’s the important thing.”
Bale was back in the squad for Saturday’s trip to Vallecas and while the intention was for him to not play the entire game, he stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes with no sign of any physical problems.
In fact, he produced a dynamic, dominant display to drag his team to victory, perhaps even his best in a Madrid shirt. “Madrid, saved by Bale,” ran one front page headline. “People will talk about the goals but beyond that he was phenomenal too,” Zidane said.
Bale added: “I felt good physically after not having played the other day. That’s the important thing, along with the fact that this allows us to keep fighting for the league. I got a little kick but I will be fine.
“We would have preferred an easier win, but the main thing is that we got a victory and wins build confidence. The manner of the victory really showed the character that we have in the squad. The last few months we have really brought ourselves back into the title race and we have got ourselves into the Champions League semi-finals. Confidence is high because of that and hopefully that can take us forward.
“I loved playing in the Premier League and I always still watch it. It will be great to go back but the most important thing is that we come back with the win,” he added. “I can remember winning a few times against them and I scored a few times against them too. We know they are a very tough team to beat but we will be going there to win the game and get into the final.”
Madrid are the favourites against City, but the same was said last season when they drew Juventus in the semi-final and it was the Italians who made it to Berlin.
“Things like that can happen in football,” Bale said. “When you are up against another big side in a big game like that I don’t think there is a favourite and you know that you are going to have to work really hard and play well to win. We know [City] won on Saturday as well but we are going into the game feeling confident and excited by it.”
While Bale is fit, there were doubts about Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo but City should not count on their absence. Asked if he thought the Portuguese would make it, Bale replied: “Yeah, I think so … hopefully.”