The Future Begins Now: A National Alliance Bridging the Gap Between Classroom Seats and Leadership Dreams    Ahl Masr Burn Hospital Concludes First Scientific Forum, Prepares for Expanded Second Edition in 2026    Egypt Tax Authority Standardises VAT Treatment for Exported Services, Issues Guidance    EGX ends week in green on 27 Nov.    Resilience, Innovation, and the Smart Home: Mohamed Ataya on GROHE's Strategic Vision for Egypt    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    Asian stocks rise on Thursday    Gaza death toll rises as humanitarian crisis deepens, Israeli offensive expands in West Bank    China's WINPEX to establish $15m lighting equipment plant in Ain Sokhna    Egypt expands rollout of Universal Health Insurance    Egypt's Al-Sisi links national progress to strict law enforcement, says society has role in reforming legal application    Cairo affirms commitment to Lebanese sovereignty, urges halt to cross-border violations    China invites Egypt to join African duty-free export scheme    Egypt, Algeria agree to deepen strategic ties, coordinate on Gaza ceasefire, regional crises    Egypt calls for stronger Africa-Europe partnership at Luanda summit    Egypt begins 2nd round of parliamentary elections with 34.6m eligible voters    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt scraps parliamentary election results in 19 districts over violations    Egypt extends Ramses II Tokyo Exhibition as it draws 350k visitors to date    Egypt signs host agreement for Barcelona Convention COP24 in December    Al-Sisi urges probe into election events, says vote could be cancelled if necessary    Filmmakers, experts to discuss teen mental health at Cairo festival panel    Cairo International Film Festival to premiere 'Malaga Alley,' honour Khaled El Nabawy    Cairo hosts African Union's 5th Awareness Week on Post-Conflict Reconstruction on 19 Nov.    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches National Strategy for Rare Diseases at PHDC'25    Egypt adds trachoma elimination to health success track record: WHO    Grand Egyptian Museum welcomes over 12,000 visitors on seventh day    'Royalty on the Nile': Grand Ball of Monte-Carlo comes to Cairo    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Omar Hisham Talaat: Media partnership with 'On Sports' key to promoting Egyptian golf tourism    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Real Madrid's Bale can silence critics against Valencia
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 07 - 05 - 2015

Gareth Bale's troubled second season at Real Madrid hit a fresh low with a poor performance in Tuesday's Champions League defeat at Juventus but the Wales winger has a chance to silence his critics in Saturday's La Liga clash at home to Valencia.
Bale, making his first start in Turin after a brief injury layoff, has been whistled by some disgruntled Real fans at the Bernabeu this term, a startling turnaround for a player who scored crucial goals in the finals of the Champions League and the King's Cup in 2013-14.
That kind of return was why Real broke the transfer record to lure the 25-year-old from Tottenham Hotspur but he has struggled to live up to expectations as the world's richest club by income chase a record-extending 11th European crown and seek to haul in La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Eliminated from the King's Cup by city rivals Atletico in January, Real lost the Champions League semi-final, first leg at Juve 2-1 and are two points behind Barca, who host Real Sociedad on Saturday, in second in La Liga with three matches left.
Bale barely made an impact against Juve before being substituted near the end and had a mere 14 touches in the first half, six fewer than Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
To be sure, his statistics are similar to those from last season, with 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 matches in 2014-15 compared to 22 goals and 12 assists in 44 games last term.
However, the perception remains that he is not performing well enough and he has been criticised for being too selfish in front of goal and not contributing enough in defence.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti has staunchly defended Bale and did so again after the Juve defeat.
"I took him off because he was tired and was coming back from an injury," Ancelotti told reporters.
"He is too important for us and when a player is tired there is a risk of injury and I prefer to avoid problems," added the Italian.
While Real's season has hit rough waters, treble-chasing Barca are flying and go into Saturday's game against Sociedad following Wednesday's superb 3-0 Champions League win at home to Bayern Munich.
Luis Enrique's side, through to this month's King's Cup final to face Athletic Bilbao, have scored 23 goals without reply in their last six outings in all competitions.
(For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/129610.aspx

Clic here to read the story from its source.