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| comment | | "parent_author":"",<br>"parent_permlink":"a",<br>"author":"trendingsports",<br>"permlink":"resurgent-gareth-bale-gives-zinedine-zidane-welcome-selection-dilemma-for-champions-league-final",<br>"title":"Resurgent Gareth Bale gives Zinedine Zidane welcome selection dilemma for Champions League final",<br>"body":"![bale-759.jpg (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmXeNrKBgJ8FbvdmP6SbXrBpAdsehGvUzhSdYRnCQqXXVu\/bale-759.jpg)\nReal Madrid forward Gareth Bale made a convincing case to be considered for a starting berth in the Champions League final against Liverpool with two scorching strikes in his side\u2019s 6-0 hammering of Celta Vigo on Saturday. Bale put the burners on to race on to a through ball from Luka Modric and fire his side into the lead with a thumping low finish.\nHe then knocked the ball through the legs of Celta\u2019s Jonny Castro on the right wing and,<br> with his next touch,<br> lashed the ball into the roof of the net to the delight of the usually hard-to-please Santiago Bernabeu faithful,<br> who gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted late in the game. \u201cHe played very well today and I\u2019m very happy for him,<br> but the important thing is that everyone is in great form heading to the final,<br>\u201d Real coach Zinedine Zidane told a news conference.\nZidane has left Bale in the margins for most of Madrid\u2019s run to a third consecutive Champions League final,<br> starting him in only one of their six knockout games this season and taking him off at halftime in that game at home to Juventus. But with six goals and an assist in his last five Liga starts,<br> including the equaliser in last week\u2019s thrilling 2-2 draw at Barcelona,<br> the Wales forward has made a late bid for a return to the starting line-up in the May 26 final in Kiev.\n\u201cIt\u2019s better like this,<br> to have everyone firing on all cylinders,<br>\u201d added Zidane. \u201cOf course now deciding a starting 11 for the final is going to give me a real headache.\u201d Madrid\u2019s top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo was rested against Celta to continue his recovery from a sprained ankle although there is no danger of him missing the final against Liverpool.\nBale\u2019s biggest competitors for a place in the starting line-up against Juergen Klopp\u2019s side are midfielder Isco,<br> who also scored in the win over Celta and has now recovered from a shoulder injury,<br> and Spanish wingers Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio.",<br>"json_metadata":" \"tags\":[\"a\",<br>\"sports\" ,<br>\"image\":[\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmXeNrKBgJ8FbvdmP6SbXrBpAdsehGvUzhSdYRnCQqXXVu\/bale-759.jpg\" ,<br>\"app\":\"steemit\/0.1\",<br>\"format\":\"markdown\" " |
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