Real Madrid – Levante: Bale turns it on before the Clásico

The hard thing to do, for a team like Madrid, isn’t playing well, it’s playing badly. It's bizarre when the muses don’t call on other muses. A rarity when the talents don’t connect. That’s what we were thinking during the first 20 minutes, maybe 30. With a team so talented all you need to do is get rid of all the bad ideas and let them get on with what's left. No need for a flight plan as it were, just a 'negative chalk-board': do whatever you want, except for what’s drawn there.

In the first half hour dynamism was the rule. The Real Madrid players, with wounded pride, passed the ball about with the enthusiasm with which the Olympic Torch is handed over. There was movement around the ball, alternatives for whoever had it, forking paths across the pitch. Maybe that's all that's needed.

After a minute, Bale shot after an exquisite manoeuvre: control on his chest, flick with his left and volley with his right, not far wide. The Welshman was the constant presence in all the actions that followed, always at his full galloping pace. He even scored the first goal. In this case it was a team effort, started by Modric and continued by Benzema. Cristiano responded to the Frenchman’s pass with an acrobatic volley that Ramis cleared off the line. While the Portuguese player was lamenting his bad luck (somewhat theatrically) Bale took advantage to score with his right foot.

The celebration of the goal was rather surprising: Bale covered his ears, ran to the corner and kicked the flag. Lacking other interpretations it can be read as a good sign: the lad has felt the criticism. If that’s the case, it’s worth having patience; the same as he needs to have with us. For a shy chap from Cardiff, us Latinos must be disconcerting, strange folk with rapid mood swings, who go to bed late and don’t eat broccoli.

Cristiano continued to miss chances and over-react afterwards. This public display of anxiety does him no favours, nor does it calm him down it seems. Quite the opposite in fact. It could be said that he was in a negative spiral, with the culmination being Bale’s second goal: Cristiano shot at goal with everything in his favour, but the ball’s flight was subtly deviated by his Welsh teammate. The Portuguese striker didn’t know whether to celebrate or wear black ribbons.

Before the second goal, it’s only fair to say, Levante had enjoyed their best moments, control with no chances, but a good spell without being hemmed in, time enough to avoid a goal-fest from Madrid.

In the second half, with the game decided, there were a few moments to talk about. Nothing shone as brightly as Benzema’s volleyed flick, from behind his body, which hit the junction of bar and post – a touch of genius. Elegance in sport (and maybe in life) is doing the extraordinary without any apparent effort, with no tension. Exactly what the Frenchman’s shot was like, and just like his response to his unfinished work of art: a smile.

The short version is that Bale endeared himself to the Madrid fans and the side are somewhat rehabilitated as they go into the Clásico. This test was useful from the point of view of the team’s spirits and the colour scheme (white against red and blue), but nothing more than that. Next Sunday there’ll be something worse than seven headed dragons. There’ll be Messi.

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