Bale off to a flyer but Ronaldo still Real top dog
Bale’s goal in the 2-2 draw at Villarreal was just one of a number of highlights in a pulsating game which featured a man-of-the-match performance by Lopez against his former team, with Ronaldo also getting on the scoresheet. The Welshman’s first game in white was then further superseded on Sunday morning when it was announced that Ronaldo had at last signed a new contract to stay at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Bale will probably not have been too concerned though, as his debut went so well.
He did not look the world’s most expensive player, but that was understandable given he remains less than 100% fit as his record transfer from Tottenham dragged on all summer.
The Wales international — playing in a right wing role and regularly cutting inside onto his left foot — initially struggled to get into the game, with Villarreal taking the lead through midfielder Cani.
But confidence boosted by his 38th- minute close-range equaliser, he was soon regularly surging past marker Mario, and came close to a second when whistling a 25 yard piledriver just over.
“Bale played well,” Madrid coach Ancelotti told reporters afterwards. “He will be happy for scoring in his first game with Madrid. He showed a good attitude on the pitch.”
Ancelotti unsurprisingly withdrew the new man on the hour mark — with the game at 1-1.
And Ronaldo scored just two minutes later, a scrambled effort which seemed set to seal the three points for Madrid.
But Gio dos Santos, ironically another ex-Spurs player, soon equalised to leave the final score at 2-2.
Bale later disappointed the throng of English reporters at El Madrigal by declining to talk post-game, but did tweet a satisfied reaction: “Proud to score on my debut and pleased to get 60 minutes tonight, just disappointed not to get the result.” s his reaction.
Sunday morning’s Madrid papers were predictably happy with the performance of their new superstar — with AS and Marca featuring different moments from his goal celebration on their covers.
Marca’s headline screamed ‘Bale — and that’s it’, while AS preferred ‘Bale scores!... and Diego Lopez saves’.
This was because Lopez had made at least eight outstanding saves as Villarreal regularly overran a Madrid midfield which also featured €38m summer signing Asier Illarramendi making his debut.
Illarramendi and his fellow European U21 championship winner Isco are superb prospects, but were easily upstaged by Villarreal’s veterans Cani and Bruno Soriano on Saturday.
The Galician keeper’s performance further complicated Ancelotti’s issues between his posts. The Italian had already announced that currently benched club captain Iker Casillas would play in Madrid’s Champions League Group B opener at Galatasaray tomorrow night but Lopez’s display now heaps the pressure on Casillas to perform when he gets this rare chance.
“There has never been a situation like this with two such equal keepers,” Lopez said. “Iker will play on Tuesday, and I will support him.”
As Madrid fans awoke Sunday morning the — perhaps media-driven — duel between Los Merengues previous attacking hero and new pretender was also taking another turn. Many believe that CR7 was unhappy with the idea of the GB11 taking his position as the world’s most expensive player.
And even with Madrid president Florentino Perez often repeating that Ronaldo was set to renew a contract which ended in June 2015, the months had dragged on without progress.
Until now.
Initial reports suggested the new contract was a three year extension, worth €14 million to €17 million after tax for each of those years. It also could end any talk of a return to Manchester United.
Bale has arrived at Madrid, and looks to be settling in very well.
But Ronaldo is going nowhere yet.
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