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Tottenham legend might miss homecoming

By Ryan Wrenn

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 23: Gareth Bale (R) of Real Madrid CF smiles ahead his teammate Luka Modric (L) both sitted on the bench prior to start the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on September 23, 2017 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 23: Gareth Bale (R) of Real Madrid CF smiles ahead his teammate Luka Modric (L) both sitted on the bench prior to start the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on September 23, 2017 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /
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The news will come more sweet than bitter to Tottenham, but Gareth Bale might miss both of Real Madrid’s upcoming matches against his former club.

Per the Guardian, Tottenham’s former superstar forward will likely miss out on not only Wales’ international matches this week, but also the next month of club fixtures.

Such news only makes Spurs’ future in Europe’s elite club competition look that much brighter. Tottenham’s draw in Champions League Group F looked less than rosy at first as it pitted them against Bale’s reigning champions and also German giants Borussia Dortmund.

A shock win over Dortmund to start their campaign in Europe sparked Spurs’ optimism though. The sentiment was only bolstered by a subsequent win over group minnows APOEL Nicosia and Dortmund’s loss to Real.

All of which suddenly made the home and away fixtures against Real Madrid over the next month much more important. If Spurs could get any kind of result in those two matches, their chances of progressing to the knockout round of the Champions League would be significantly improved.

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Beyond such tangible concerns though was the tantalizing prospect of Bale’s return to face the club where it all began. For both the player and the organization, these matches held the potential to be emotional affairs.

Which isn’t to suggest that there’s any acrimony there. Bale burned so bright at Tottenham, especially in his final season with the club in 2012/13, that few if any fans could muster any resentment when he left for Real for a record fee. He was — and is — simply too good of a player to reside anywhere but the absolute heights of the sport.

Real unquestionably reached football’s peak in the years since Bale’s arrival. They lay claim to three of the last four Champions League trophies, along with last season’s La Liga title.

Dire prognostications that Real’s success will dry up as Cristiano Ronaldo ages have yet to come true, thanks in part to Bale — still only 28-years-old — and a flourishing new class surrounding him. The likes of Isco, Casemiro, Raphaël Varane and Marcos Asensio — all 25 or younger — are set to keep Real competitive for a long while yet.

Which is why Mauricio Pochettino might not be getting carried away about Bale’s likely absence. The Real team that leaned so heavily on singular attacking talents is slowly but surely being replaced with a harmonious unit of unrivaled talent up and down the pitch. Missing one piece, in other words, won’t cause Real’s puzzle to fall apart.

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Which isn’t to imply that Real are invulnerable. Pochettino will look at the Spanish giants’ lackluster league campaign — Los Merengues currently sit fifth in La Liga — for inspiration ahead of Spurs’ visit to Madrid on the 17th and then for the return leg at Wembley in November.

These could end up being matches decided by slim margins. Stripping Real of the poetic advantage of Bale’s homecoming might just be enough.

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