Champions League final: Will Gareth Bale make the difference again?

Often misunderstood, Real Madrid striker Gareth Bale could take part in Saturday’s Champions League final against Liverpool. Here’s why he could make the difference.

Two things are certain come Saturday: Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the Champions League final and striker Gareth Bale will be playing in his last game for the Spanish giants.

Some consider Bale a flop at Madrid, while others think he could be a misunderstood legend.

The reality is Bale has scored some of the best, and biggest, goals for Real Madrid over the last few years. Bale, a second-half sub in the 2018 final against Liverpool, scored two goals in Kyiv to power Real Madrid to the Champions League crown.

Can he do it all over again in Paris?

Real Madrid: Can Gareth Bale come up large again?

That’s one of the biggest storylines to emerge this week after coach Carlo Ancelotti included Bale on the roster for the final. It’s very likely to be Bale’s final match for the club. How it all ends for Bale remains to be seen.

Bale has already won four UCL titles, an insane amount, but continues to be underrated. Fans in Madrid have often accused him of caring more about playing for Wales than Los Blancos. The truth is he’s done a lot for both club and country over the last decade. In fact, he has a knack for scoring in championship games for Real Madrid.

Bale joined Real Madrid in 2013, but loaned out to Tottenham, his former club, for the 2020-21 season. He returned to Spain in 2021 and has seen very limited playing time this season. In all, he’s played in just seven goals across all competitions, scoring just once.

That doesn’t mean Bale, who is likely to be on the bench for the start of the Liverpool game, can’t come in late should Real Madrid need some offense. Injuries to any of the starters, like Karim Benzema or Eden Hazard, could result in him seeing some minutes.

Bale may be on the outs at Madrid, but he has proven that he can score big goals when called upon. Madrid hasn’t shown much love for Bale the last few years, but that doesn’t mean he can’t deliver them a major trophy should they need him.

Bale could very well be the unlikely hero in Paris come Saturday. In a game with so many unpredictable variables, Bale could prove once again that he is key for Real Madrid in big games.