Real Madrid 3-0 AS Roma: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis, Champions League 2018/19

#4 Gareth Bale is close to running the show at the Bernabeu

Bale is pushing to fill the void left behind by Ronaldo

The Welshman was involved in the thick of the action from the get-go as he drifted out wide and cut inside on countless occasions to try and give Real Madrid the upper hand in the early stages. Gareth Bale was a real nuisance to Aleksandar Kolarov down the flank as he weaved in and out to cause all kinds of problems to the Serbian on the night.

The Champions League and Real Madrid have mostly been about Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years and perhaps nobody knows it better than Bale, who has always remained in the shadow of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner during his time at the Bernabeu. However, Ronaldo's departure in the summer has benefited Bale tremendously as he now aims to establish himself as a talisman for the club under Julen Lopetegui.

Bale could have had more than just the solitary goal he scored in the second half if he was more clinical on the night but undoubtedly, it was quite clear that he was their go-to man ever since the start of the game, keeping the engine running at all times.