When Gareth Bale was signed from Tottenham Hotspur, it spelt a new era for Real Madrid: The age of the BBC. The fans were initially distraught at the amount of money that was paid for the Welshman, but all that was forgotten when Gareth Bale’s individual brilliance won Real Madrid the Clasico final of the Copa del Rey.
That season, the 2013-14 one, was the start of an incredible partnership between the three men as they finished the season with a combined tally of 97 goals. Things were looking promising; after all, Real Madrid had won the Champions League and Copa del Rey in the trio’s first season – and more was hyped for next season.
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In terms of statistics, the next season- 2014-15 – was the best the BBC ever enjoyed till date. Scoring a combined tally of 100 goals, the BBC set the standards for other clubs’ attackers to follow. However, a deeper look reveals the crevices of that damned season that saw then manager, Carlo Ancelotti, being sacked after Real Madrid couldn’t win a single trophy.
The first half of the following season was a quagmire that saw the newly-appointed manager, Rafa Benitez, lose control of the dressing room. The collective sighs of relief of Madridistas when Benitez was sacked in January were a telling demonstration of the negative aura that Benitez’s era oozed.
Then came Zinedine Zidane. His appointment instantly dispersed the preceding negativity and changed the environment of the dressing room to a positive one—and it showed. The players were playing better and they only just missed out on the league title after a brilliant fight back.
However, they won the Champions League and the BBC ended with 98 goals, just two less than the previous season.
So far, the preceding paragraphs describe the tales of glory of the BBC. However, after this, it is just the downfall of one of football’s most feared trios.
The downfall of BBC
The decline of the famous trident was starting to show since the final phase of the 2015-16 season. Karim Benzema’s constant affair with injuries coupled with Bale’s inconsistent form meant that Cristiano Ronaldo was the only one carrying the attack for his team.
And that trend has continued ever since.
In fact, it has gotten even worse with Benzema’s terrible run of form – he is yet to reach double figures in the league this season – and the Welshman’s periodic injuries.
So far this season, the Frenchman has scored only 17 goals in an astonishing 43 games. For someone assisted by the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, this is a terrible return. Also, it is not like he is contributing to his teammates’ goals too as he has only four assists this season.
Gareth Bale’s numbers are even worse. In 26 games, the former Spurs winger has scored only nine goals and assisted only thrice. The problem is far deeper than just statistics, though.
The Gareth Bale conundrum
Let’s concentrate on the Welshman first: Playing him comes at the cost of Madrid’s midfield shape and, therefore, balance. With Bale in the team, Zidane has to play a 4-3-3 with the BBC upfront and Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro behind them.
Being central midfielders by trait, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, quite naturally, operate from the center-circle mostly. In fact, that is where their uses come to best effect. Meanwhile, the BBC like to attack the box and constantly try to take up positions within it.
This leaves a monumental gap between the midfield and attack of the Blancos. Sometimes, there is a good 40-yard distance between the two units. While Marcelo and Carvajal push up to provide support, the space in the middle has been one of the biggest reasons for Madrid’s lacklustre outings when the BBC are playing.
During Carlo Ancelotti’s reign, the BBC’s best ever period, Luka Modric almost often filled this gap up—single-handedly—with sizzling ball control skills in tight spaces. However, age seems to be catching up on him as he can no longer dribble out of congestion like he once could.
Right now, under Zinedine Zidane, when Gareth Bale doesn’t play, Madrid almost always replace him with one of Isco, James Rodriguez or Marco Asensio – players that love to operate in the space between midfield and attack.
It is for this reason that Real Madrid look far more cohesive when Bale doesn’t play as there is someone who can link the midfield to attack. It’s not entirely the former Southampton starlet’s fault as his trait is to attack the box and not link the midfield to attack – and you can’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree.
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And then there is the case of Karim Benzema
The Frenchman’s atrocious form has people wondering as to how he starts for the team in almost every game. This amusement increases tenfold when the likes of Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo as the lone centre-forward have done much better than the former Lyon hitman.
Benzema was never really known for his scoring instincts. However, the one thing that stood out about him was his ability to link plays in attack. This made him the fulcrum of Real Madrid’s attack and Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest support.
Unfortunately, however, that Karim Benzema can no longer be seen. Part of his decline has Cristiano Ronaldo’s change in playing style for its root. The Portugal captain spends the majority of his time in the centre, unlike previously when he used to attack from the left.
This leaves lesser space for Benzema to operate and narrows down his range of influence. However, great players are the ones that adapt to changes; Benzema, so far, has not done so.
All of this has rendered the BBC ineffective on most occasions. The fact that Madrid have the likes of Isco, Asensio, James Rodriguez and Lucas Vazquez waiting in the wings – and making the team perform better when they play makes Zidane’s insistence of playing the BBC inscrutable.
If Real Madrid win all of their next games, they could end up the season with a double. If they, however, lose as little as two games, they could end up with nothing.
And the best way to ensure that is by playing their best team – and that doesn’t include the BBC.
