We have all seen it. All of us noticed the Champions League semi-final, the inappropriate Eden Hazard collected the ball, skimmed after which returned. All of us noticed Actual Madrid knocked out of the European competitors to Chelsea, Belgium’s former membership.
All of us noticed Hazard then share a smile and a snigger with some ex-teammates, and sadly that image was immortalized in pictorial kind. And naturally all of us noticed the response of Josep Pedrerol, host of the Spanish TV sequence El Chiringuito.
On this basic second of tv historical past, Pedrerol accused Hazard of “taking the piss out of Madrid” for his lack of wrestle for the trigger and described the famous person as “one other ball in our lives”.
This was after all as regards to Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale, who now enjoys a 12 months away from Spain and lives in north London. The Welshman has change into a lightning rod for insults and assaults lately, and Madrid have performed the whole lot to completely chase him out of the Spanish capital.
It has not labored out as deliberate, and though he’s presently out of sight and out of his thoughts, the difficulty will convey his ugly head when he swans again to the Spanish capital in July, golf membership in hand.
These feedback made the world suppose, however is Hazard actually one other ball in Madrid’s life? So we determined to research Hazard and Bale’s first seasons on the membership to see if Los Blancos are “unfortunate” sufficient to endure such a destiny.
Gareth Bale – 22
You just can’t query Bale’s aim contribution throughout his first season in Madrid. The ahead was on fireplace from begin to complete and scored on his league debut towards Villarreal and added one other 21 to his quantity in all competitions.
Bale ended the marketing campaign with 15 league objectives, six within the Champions League (together with a vital head) and a lone strike within the Copa del Rey (which additionally proved to be fairly essential). We are going to come to those strikes later …
Eden Hazard – 1 A Second of Happiness within the Spanish Capital | High quality Sport Pictures / Getty Pictures
As for Hazard, it was an extremely disappointing aim return for the Belgian. After scoring 21 objectives in all competitions for Chelsea in the course of the 2018/19 season, Hazard solely provided one strike in all competitions for Madrid the next 12 months.
The wing shot empty in each Champions League look and scored its solely aim of the marketing campaign in a 4-2 victory over Granada. So, first statistics counsel that Hazard isn’t Bale’s second arrival.
Gareth Bale – 19
If 22 objectives for himself was not sufficient, Bale supplied 19 assists for his teammates within the 2013/14 marketing campaign and took his whole aim contribution to 41 for the 12 months. Not too unhealthy in any respect. The ahead added a bracket of help to a brace of objectives in an unimaginable 7-3 demolition of Sevilla in La Liga, and was an everyday contributor all through the season.
The numbers communicate for themselves: Bale was a giant hit and delivered towards all groups, large and small, and even on probably the most prestigious events.
Eden Hazard – 7
Solely the seven assistants for Hazard in all competitions. He scored an important aim in a 1-0 victory over Galatasaray within the Champions League, and related excellently with Benzema to administer the three factors.
And within the last phases of the season, he got here up with a trump card with a pair extra assists for teammates in essential wins on the approach to regaining the Spanish title. Aside from that, it was a unhealthy season all-round for Belgium.
Gareth Bale – Cup winner
While you wanted a aim in a giant sport, Bale was there. The previous Spurs man was in the correct place at the correct time to guide Madrid within the lead in additional time of the Champions League last 2014 towards Atletico Madrid and kicked Los Merengues in honor of their bitter rivals.
He was additionally the star of the present within the Copa del Rey last and made a incredible solo strike in the course of the useless minutes to win a 2-1 victory over Barcelona and write his identify firmly within the membership’s historical past books. If solely they had been not so anxious to wash away his triumphs …
Eden Hazard – Return to title-in-Trophy situation in hand ANP Sport / Getty Pictures
From two last objectives for the cup to a return to health. Hopes had been nonetheless excessive for Hazard, whilst the weeks handed and his damage issues continued to plague him. However he confirmed glimpses of his former self within the final matches when Madrid chased the league title.
Hazard was in a position to placed on the help for Sergio Ramos and Benzema in video games in a row, which put Los Merengues in command of the Liga title race. He participated in six of the final ten matches of the marketing campaign and helped his aspect regain the throne. A variety of authorized effort, although.
Gareth Bale – Solo within the Copa del Rey last
It’s tough to choose from a connecting aim in a Champions League last and an excellent winner within the Spanish Cup last, however we’ve got gone for the latter, solely for its aesthetic glory. The minutes evaporated within the Copa del Rey last and Madrid was 1-1 with Barça.
Then Bale took issues into his personal arms. He picked up the ball inside his personal half and began it up on the left flank earlier than chasing. His pitch and tempo took him off the sector, however he returned to whistle Marc Bartra to the ball, reduce inwards and pushed a shot residence. One in every of the massive last objectives for the cup.
Eden Hazard – Man of the match efficiency towards Granada
Sure, this does probably not stand comparability, proper? Hazard had only a few highlights throughout his virgin marketing campaign in Spain, however one was positively the 4-2 victory towards Granada on match day 8.
The previous Chelsea star scored an excellent aim and competed on a constant ball to think about a cheeky chip over the goalkeeper and even helped Luka Modric’s thunder again outdoors the penalty space. An excellent day and one which gave everybody lots of false optimism.
Gareth Bale – Missed Video games: 13On The Tire | Soccrates Pictures / Getty Pictures
Bale arrived in Madrid with a lightweight knock, after not being in any of Tottenham’s first three video games within the marketing campaign, earlier than transferring £ 80 million to Madrid. All through the season, the Wales worldwide was eradicated by 13 match day groups in all competitions.
In keeping with Transfermarkt, Bale collected 3329 minutes of motion in 2013/14, which made him a constant presence on the Madrid aspect.
Eden Hazard – Video games missed: 26 damage susceptible | High quality Sport Pictures / Getty Pictures
Lastly, Hazard is the winner! Nevertheless it’s hardly a large dub.
The wing was absent from 26 match day groups in all competitions within the 2019/20 marketing campaign and missed the bulk with a recurring ankle damage.
In comparison with Bale’s 3,329 minutes of soccer, Hazard managed simply 1,545 – lower than half of what his exile achieved. In fact, that is not his fault, however it solely provides to the frustration surrounding his £ 100 million transfer to the Bernabeu.
No. Not at the identical degree | Soccrates Pictures / Getty Pictures
Let’s face it, Bale will get a lot disrespect from Madrid followers and the Spanish media that it is frankly absurd. Comparisons between the Welshman and Hazard solely present how a lot of an agenda they’ve towards him.
The connection between participant and membership severely broke, and neither celebration is free from guilt for the half they performed in that collapse. However Hazard ought to be flattered for having acquired such comparisons, and Bale ought to be insulted.
One other ball? You would like, Madridistas.
