Gareth Bale's Looming Return Represents Significant Opportunity—Again

It was the English poet of the early 1800s, Lord Byron, who said, "History, with all her volumes vast, hath but one page." Now Byron almost certainly wasn't referencing the happenings at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it was an eloquent way of saying history repeats itself, or we've been here before.

And in this case, we have.

It was back in September when, 28 minutes into Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk, Gareth Bale limped off with a calf injury that would sideline him for almost a month.

For Bale, it was another damaging setback. For large sections of the club's fanbase, though, it was something else.

Only a few weeks earlier, a poll run by Marca had seen the Welshman dropped from the Real Madrid fans' XI. Evidently, tension from a tumultuous 2014-15 season continued to linger as the current one began. To fans, Bale was still the over-priced, over-protected and underwhelming figure they'd fumed at for months.

His injury, then, gave many what they wanted. Or perhaps what they thought they wanted.

In Madrid's first game without Bale, Rafa Benitez's men were ever so fortunate to scrape past Granada. Next came a close shave with Athletic Bilbao. Then Madrid drew a blank against Malaga. Then they just did enough to edge past Malmo.

This was after the scorelines had read 5-0, 6-0 and 4-0 when Bale was around and quietly excellent.

Thus, when the Madrid derby arrived in early October and as the Welshman closed in on a return, the mood towards him had subtly shifted. Suddenly, the perception of his influence had changed. A spell on the sidelines, on a personal level, had been beneficial. Absence had made hearts grow fonder.

As such, his return represented an opportunity to reinforce the changing perception.

But the opportunity was missed.

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In a cameo return against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon, Bale had little impact. When Madrid returned after the international break, the former Spurs star was withdrawn at half-time against Levante, a recurrence of his calf injury sidelining him again.

When he made it back, he returned to a side that was embarrassed by Sevilla and Barcelona.

Now, though, we've come full circle.

In the two months that followed the Clasico debacle, Bale was outstanding for Madrid. In a nine-game stretch, he tallied 11 goals and five assists to burst to prominence despite the sense of chaos that engulfed his club. In the last four-and-a-half games in that run, he stormed to tallies of nine and three, respectively. Two hat-tricks were included.

Never before had Bale looked better in a Madrid shirt. But then, against Sporting Gijon, he limped off. Again. In the first half. Again. With a calf injury. Again.

Again, it was a setback. And yet, again, it's been the driver of a shifting mood.

When Madrid travelled to Seville to take on Real Betis in their first game following the Welshman's latest injury, they lacked something. Penetration, maybe. Force. Dynamism. Bale's absence was telling, and it was once more on Sunday as Madrid laboured past lowly Granada.

So here we are, then: The perception of Bale's influence has been strengthened by his absence.

Again.

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Now, another Bale return is looming. It might come next week against Roma. According to Marca, it could be as late as the Madrid derby at the end of February.

Whenever it does arrive, though, another opportunity will too.

Though the 26-year-old has steadily strengthened his position—both performance-wise and politically—at the Bernabeu this season, he hasn't yet cemented it. There are some who still need swaying. Others demand that bursts become relentless barrages.

But now Bale can cement his position, his status.

If he's able to return and instantly take Real Madrid to another level from where they've been in his absence—particularly if he were to do it against Atletico—questions over his influence would immediately become redundant.

In a single outing, Bale can vaporise any lingering doubts. He can definitively establish a perception of great influence. He can calm the minds of those who worry for a post-Cristiano Ronaldo future.

He can place himself at the heart of this team.

Again, injury has shifted perception. Now, a looming return will bring with it opportunity.

Again.

Follow @TimDCollins