Top 5 Gareth Bale performances

#4 La Decima

Gareth celebrating after scoring the winner in Lisbon

It had been 12 years since a Zinedine Zidane volley gave Los Blancos their 9th European title. The Spanish Giants had won 3 trophies in 5 years back then. However, they had no idea that they would have to wait for more than a decade to play their next CL final.

Back in 2014, Lisbon was ready for the biggest game of the season. For the first time, 2 teams from the same city would face each other in a European Final. Gareth Bale was all set for what would be one of the greatest Madrid Derbies of all time. The game began in the worst way possible for Les Merengues. A Casillas error gave Los Rojiblancos an early lead in Lisbon. Los Blancos suffered for the rest of the 90, as they struggled to find the back of the net. Just when La Decima seemed to have eluded Carlo Ancelloti's men, Sergio Ramos headed home a 93rd-minute equalizer, forcing the game into extra time.

A team that was moments away from being European Champions for the first time suddenly had to do it all over again. Simeone's men just couldn't find the inspiration and extra time saw Real absolutely rout their opposition, wining the game 4-1 on the night. In the second half of extra time, Angel Di Maria made a fabulous run and took a beautiful shot on goal. The shot was kept out by Courtois but landed perfectly for Gareth Bale who headed home the winner. Bale might not have been Real's savior but he sure was the hero who sent Real Madrid into the lead. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo finished the game off, and Real finally won the prestigious La Decima.

The $100Million signing who was brought to the Bernabeu to help Los Blancos make La Decima a reality didn't disappoint. The Welshman had lived up to his reputation and his winner in the Champions League final was only a precedent for what lay ahead.