In La Liga and even in European football, there was once an unforgettable trident of the "BBC" that dominated the pitch. Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema joined forces in a goalscoring spree that left their opponents helpless. Over time, this legendary combination is falling apart. As one of the three, Gareth Bale's situation at Real Madrid is now in the spotlight.
1. The glorious past of the BBC Trident
During Zidane's tenure, Bale gained full trust and reuse. In the 2013-14 Copa del Rey final, Gareth Bale scored an immortal goal to help Real Madrid win the title. The goal is regarded as one of the greatest goals in the club's history and a testament to Bale's extraordinary talent. That season, Bale formed the "BBC" trident with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, and together they dominated European football and won Real Madrid numerous honours.
Bale briefly played at left-back early in his career but was soon switched to striker. He is good at using his feet to shoot, especially when it comes to free-kick tactics. In a Champions League group stage in 2010, Bale humiliated Inter Milan's defence with a stunning solo performance, and was dubbed "making a big fuss about Meazza". In that match, he used stunts such as "somersault cloud" and "seventy-two changes" to make his opponent unguardable. ［3］
Second, Bale's current situation at Real Madrid
After Zinedine Zidane's resignation, Bale's position at Real Madrid was much worse than before. New boss Carlo Ancelotti has been blunt in saying that Bale should leave Real Madrid in search of a new challenge. Under Anshuai's leadership, Bale only got limited playing time in 2019/20, contributing just three goals and two assists in 20 appearances. To make matters worse, Bale has been unavailable on as many as 11 substitute occasions.
The conflict between Bale and Zidane continues to intensify, and Real Madrid fans also have a lot of criticism about him. At one point, a sign reading "Welsh > Golf >Real Madrid" appeared in the stands, accusing Bale of being more interested in golf than loyal to Real Madrid. Although Bale has won multiple titles for Real Madrid, his situation at the Bernabeu has been increasingly marginalized. ［4］
3. Bell's other achievements
Despite a slump at Real Madrid, Bale had a great time playing for Wales. In 2022, he led Wales to a historic World Cup final, marking Wales' first World Cup appearance in 64 years. In the group stage, Bale's free-kick was headed into his own goal by a Ukrainian player to help Wales win. Bale admits that playing in the World Cup is the final piece of the puzzle of his career.
The Netherlands once had a forward trident known as the "dream trio", namely Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Rijkaard. Their presence made interesting contrasts and comparisons with Real Madrid's "BBC" trident at the time. ［2］［3］
4. Other relevant information
During his tenure at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane led the team to achieve three consecutive Champions League titles. But after winning the title in 2018, he chose to resign. This is undoubtedly a big blow for Real Madrid, and the prospects of players such as Bale have also been affected.
Barcelona, another famous Spanish team, has a long history. It is known as a "powerhouse" in La Liga, and the showdown with Real Madrid has always been the focus of the whole game. The overall level of La Liga has improved considerably in recent years, attracting more and more fans. ［2］
It may only be a matter of time before the BBC trident falls apart, and Bale's departure from Real Madrid seems to be a matter of time. The former hero is now facing a new challenge in his career. Despite his precarious situation at Real Madrid, his impressive achievements for Wales are unforgettable. We'll see what Bell does in the future.