Forwards flop in Real disaster
Print Edition
REAL Madrid paid more than 200 million euros (US$227.76 million) to assemble its forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema but the attacking trio failed it again in Wednesday’s Champions League exit to Juventus.
Ronaldo did manage to score from the penalty spot to give holder Real a 23rd-minute lead in the semifinal, second leg at the Bernabeu but faded out of the match in the second half, while Benzema and especially Bale missed a string of chances.
It was left to a Real reject to make the decisive contribution, its former striker Alvaro Morata, who joined Juventus for 20 million euros in the close season, netting in the 57th minute to send the Italians through 3-2 on aggregate to face Barcelona in next month’s final.
Morata’s goal ended Real’s dream of a record-extending 11th European crown and it is almost certain to end the season without winning one of the three major trophies. Dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Atletico Madrid in January, it is four points behind La Liga leader Barcelona with two games left and the Catalans can make sure of a fifth title in seven years with a win at Atletico on Sunday.
After a successful first season in Spain following his record move from Tottenham Hotspur, Bale has been under scrutiny amid Real’s recent struggles, with many fans blaming him for the club’s woes.
He won applause for testing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon with a powerful long-range effort in the first half on Wednesday but later fluffed at least two opportunities, including a header from Ronaldo’s lofted cross that he put over the crossbar.
“I couldn’t quite get over the ball which was disappointing but it’s one of them things that happens in football and you move on,” Bale told Sky Sports.
“As long as I keep trying usually one goes in but unfortunately it didn’t tonight,” added the Wales winger. “What don’t kill you makes you stronger and I’ll learn from this season a lot and take it into next season and have a good season.”
Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s future away from Madrid, however, seems more certain. The Italian may have ended a 12-year wait for the club’s 10th European Cup last year, but few managers survive a season having failed to win La Liga or the Champions League under Real president Florentino Perez.
Ancelotti does bear the brunt of blame for a season that promised so much in an autumn run of 22 straight wins and ultimately delivered very little.
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