Welshman heads back to scene of Real debut - Villarreal marks round II for Bale

Posted Saturday, September 27, 2014 by Marca.com

A year has gone by and Gareth Bale is heading back to the scene of his 'Los Blancos' debut. A lot has changed for the Welshman since then.

El Madrigal marked Bale's first outing for Real, where he scored his first goal dressed in white. His celebrations were short-lived, however, as this maiden appearance was to be followed by the muscle problem that plagued him which, coupled with not having a pre-season, made his settling-in period more difficult than expected.

There is nothing like a bit of calm, however. The forward is about to go up against Villarreal again, but this time round, his €90 million price tag is no longer the topic of conversation. The figures now being discussed are his goal stats - five in six games, four in La Liga and one in the Champions League -, added to two assists.

There is no cloud of doubt hanging over him. And not just because he ended up completing a commendable season, but because he has kept on improving, borne out by his tally of 22 goals and 19 assists.

There is no comparison between Bale's start to this season and the last. The benefits of the Welsh player's work in America and of having some down time are clear to see, without the stress of his last-gasp move to Real.

Bale is the full package this year. He even scored two goals in his match with Wales, one of them a spectacular free-kick, and the other a header. In the league, he scored twice in the 8-2 win over Deportivo, putting in another with his head against Elche, and also found the back of the net in Anoeta. He has also served up two assists.