Bale Bails Real Madrid Out of Champions League SlumpBale Bails Real Madrid Out of Champions League Slump In a thrilling Champions League encounter, Gareth Bale came to the rescue of Real Madrid, propelling them to a crucial 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund and ending their recent run of poor results. After a disappointing start to the season, Los Blancos were in desperate need of a confidence boost. Their Champions League campaign had faltered with two consecutive draws, piling pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane. Bale, who had been on the periphery of the team in recent months, was handed a rare start by Zidane. And he repaid the faith with a scintillating performance, scoring twice and setting up the other goal for Karim Benzema. The Welshman opened the scoring in the 17th minute, latching onto a defense-splitting pass from Benzema and coolly slotting the ball past Roman Bürki. Dortmund equalized through Ousmane Dembele shortly before halftime, but Bale restored Madrid’s lead just after the break. The 28-year-old capitalized on a defensive lapse from the Bundesliga side, intercepting a poor backpass and firing home from a tight angle. Bale then turned provider for Benzema, who made it 3-1 in the 55th minute with a clinical finish. Madrid held on for the win despite losing Sergio Ramos to a red card in the 81st minute. The victory sent them to the top of Group H, three points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and APOEL Nicosia. Bale’s performance was a timely reminder of his quality and importance to Real Madrid. The Welshman has been criticized for his inconsistency, but he has consistently delivered on the big occasions. His goals against Dortmund not only gave Madrid a much-needed boost but also eased the pressure on Zidane and his players. The victory will serve as a catalyst for the Spanish giants, who will be looking to build on this performance and reclaim their domestic and European dominance.
