Ranking Gareth Bale's 55 La Liga Goals 4 Years After His Debut
Gareth Bale remains an integral part of Real Madrid's front line, four years after scoring on his debut against Villarreal.
The Welshman has had to work hard to win the respect of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd and earn a near-guaranteed spot in the team; and while some on the terraces may still question whether he's in Madrid's best XI, his coaches have relied on his power, pace and goalscoring.
Bale has played over 150 times for Real Madrid now, winning the UEFA Champions League three times along the way, and finally adding La Liga to his trophy haul last term.
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The Wales international scored seven times in the league in 2016/17 to contribute significantly despite a spate of injuries. Those goals also took him past the 50-goal mark for the club in the Spanish top flight.
Here's a look back at every single one, ordered by aesthetics, skill and memorability.
53. Bale's single La Liga goal in 2017/18 thus far, he knocked home from two yards out against Deportivo La Coruna after Karim Benzema's miscontrol.
52. A penalty against Cordoba to win the match late on.
51. A counter-attack against Sevilla ends with Benzema lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and Bale scoring from four yards.
50. Capitalising on a defensive error, Bale robs the ball in the box and steers home versus Almeria.
49. Bale's fourth in a game against Rayo Vallecano comes as he tries to set up Ronaldo, the ball rebounds back to the Welshman and he taps home. (3:00 here)
48. A tap-in at the far post from Angel Di Maria's low cross against Rayo.
47. The No. 11 takes advantage of some errant decision-making by Sporting Gijon's goalkeeper to head in at the near post off a corner (1:15).
46. Bale nips in to score his second against Leganes after a knockdown on a set piece.
45. Another header, this time a close-range nod home against Eibar after a cross from the left.
44. Danilo does the hard work with a good cross, Bale rises unopposed to score a header (0:12) against Rayo.
43. Marcelo's pass into the area is angled home by Bale against Deportivo La Coruna. (3:30 here)
42. Bale ghosts in to head home from James Rodriguez's cross versus Elche (0:32).
41. Debut goal vs. Villarreal, sliding into the six-yard box to steer home.
40. Ronaldo and Toni Kroos combine, and Bale slides in the low cross versus Rayo.
39. Bale reacts quickly to head home a rebound, his first of a hat-trick versus Real Valladolid.
38. Another hat-trick, this one against Depor, is completed by rising highest at a corner and heading home. (2:10 here)
37. A short corner routine is nodded in by Bale at the near post against Eibar.
36. The No. 11 scores inside two minutes against Real Betis, beating the goalkeeper to a cross to head in.
35. Ronaldo's overhead kick is cleared off the line, and Bale volleys in the rebound vs. Levante.
34. A looped header into the far corner against Depor, his first of a hat-trick on the day.
33. Passing wide to Marcelo, Bale continues his run into the box and finishes the cutback versus Valladolid.
32. Almost a carbon copy except starting deeper, he swaps passes with Marcelo and nets his hat-trick versus Valladolid.
31. A hat-trick against Rayo is sealed by racing to lead a counter and finishing Ronaldo's low ball in. (2:00 here)
30. One minute into the 2016/17 season, Bale rose high to direct Dani Carvajal's cross past Real Sociedad's 'keeper and in.
29. A drilled cross from the right is met by Bale's head; it sparks a comeback from two down to beat Villarreal.
28. Isco's pass sets Bale free, and he loops a finish over the Depor goalkeeper. (4:00 here)
27. Ronaldo heads back a deep cross, Bale controls, sets himself and hammers a finish inside the far post against Getafe. (1:15 here)
26. Bale leads a counter-attack, but nobody closes him down so he simply runs on and lashes a low shot home against Celta Vigo.
25. Isco frees a rampaging Bale down the left channel, he holds off the defender and steers his finish inside the far post against Espanyol.
24. A difficult header, diving away from goal off a corner to score and lead a comeback against Rayo.
23. Kroos plays Bale in, he rounds the Granada 'keeper and just about squeezes the ball inside the near post.
22. Rayo are put to the sword by a neat turn in space, before Bale runs in and finishes in style. (1:00 here)
21. Almeria fall victim to Madrid's quick passing, Bale finding space on the left to drill one home.
20. Real Sociedad are defeated by Bale sprinting on to a through ball, rounding the goalkeeper and scoring. (1:20 here)
19. Malaga are undone by Ronaldo's flick, with Bale sprinting on and firing home right-footed.
18. A first-time, low, left-footed finish against Depor, beating the 'keeper at the near post. (1:10 here)
17. Getafe send a free-kick into the box; 10 seconds later, it's in the net at the other end as Real counter and Bale steers it home.
16. A late header against Real Sociedad, rising high to power in his effort and win the match.
15. Straight-line running from Bale who counters off a Rayo corner, strips the defender and nets.
14. Pace again on show; a lofted pass frees Bale on the right, he cuts in and slides one home against Getafe.
13. An intelligent run makes use of a diagonal pass, before Bale gets slightly lucky rounding the 'keeper and scoring against Leganes.
12. An unmarked Bale powerfully heads home a Kroos cross versus Almeria.
11. Bale races through the centre, takes a pass from Benzema and buries a right-footed finish against Espanyol. (3:00 here)
10. Top corner vs. Sevilla
Into the top 10, starting with a fine flowing move ended by Bale steering one into the top corner against Sevilla.
A tremendous finish, it put a great seal on a sweeping team movement down the left side.
9. Real Sociedad skills
He's not always noted for it, but here Bale shows extremely quick feet versus Real Sociedad.
The winger nutmegs a defender and finishes low inside the near post with a steered finish.
8. Another against Rayo
One of Bale's favourite teams to play against.
His power and pace were on show as he intercepted a loose pass, sped into the area and buried a low shot against Rayo to win the game late on.
7. Signature header
One of Bale's best headers: This one came late on against Valencia to put his team in front before Los Che equalised even later.
A good delivery was angled into the far top corner by the Welshman.
6. Not to Bale!
It isn't usually advisable for goalkeepers to clear to anybody not on their own team—that goes double for Real Madrid attackers.
Then-Real Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo kicked the ball out to Bale, and he replied in kind from 25 yards.
5. Set-piece blitz
Bale has had his fair share of free-kick highlights, despite not always being first choice to take them at the Bernabeu.
This one bent over the wall and in off the post versus Espanyol.
4. Solo style
It's not a side of Bale's game he gets credit for, but his work rate remains in place and at times he gets the rewards for it.
Bale tackles a defender, sprints into the box and dinks his finish over the Villarreal 'keeper—lovely.
3. The humdinger
A signature Bale effort back in his Tottenham Hotspur days would be a raking shot from range; here, he showcased that exact ability in a different white shirt.
His long-range prowess was on show with a strike on the run, in off the post, against Betis.
2. Bale's best free-kick
Poor old Betis, in the firing lane again—this time from a dead ball situation.
A great free-kick, clipped over the wall and bent into the bottom corner, utterly unstoppable.
1. Bale brings the thunder
Top of Bale's goals in La Liga is this ripsnorter from distance, crashing in off the crossbar versus Elche.
It's arguably his finest at Real Madrid to date and won't be forgotten in a hurry.
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