Uefa Champions League 2018/2019, Real Madrid 2-1 Viktoria Plzen: Five Talking Points

#3 Gareth Bale is incapable of carrying the team

Gareth Bale has struggled to live up to expectations

Once the most expensive player in the world following his record-breaking transfer from Tottenham in 2013, Gareth Bale found it hard to justify his price tag at Real, as he found playing time difficult to come by.

The 29-year-old was absolutely phenomenal for Tottenham, and it was on the back of his PFA Player of the Year performances that Real shelled out such a huge outlay to get him, so the world was well aware of his abilities prior to the transfer.

However, the presence of Ronaldo in the same dressing room with him always meant that the Welshman would have to play second fiddle, and despite showing flashes of his brilliance over the years, it was believed that he had not done enough to play his way into the hearts of a notoriously difficult to please Bernabeu crowd, as injuries and a loss of form reduced Bale's effectiveness.

It was said that Real hadn't seen the best of Bale, as the team had not been built around him in the way that it was at Tottenham, but the presence of Ronaldo meant this was practically impossible, as there can only be one Captain on a Ship.

After scoring a world-class goal in the final of the 2018 Champions League final triumph over Liverpool, Bale expressed his displeasure at his lack of playing opportunities at the club, with strong speculation linking him with a move away from the club.

As it happened, that did not materialize, and it was Ronaldo who departed instead, and the stage was now set for Bale to take over the mantle and make this his team, with the man himself suggesting as much with his comments to the media.

However, four months on from Ronaldo's departure, and Bale is still struggling to become the talisman of this team, much less stepping into the gargantuan boots left by Ronaldo.

His injury niggles have resurfaced, while he has struggled to influence games in the manner that the now departed Portuguese did, as it is hard to imagine Real Madrid besieged in this manner if Ronaldo was present.

For so long Gareth Bale had sought to be the main man of the team, and with his opportunity here, he has failed to grab it, and this is a real disappointment from a player from whom much more was expected.