Apathetic in the extreme
Gareth Bale's time at Real Madrid is up.
After an abject El Clasico performance, Bale was hauled off for Marco Asensio in the 62nd minute. He was anonymous in that hour. Britain's biggest footballing export, until Aaron Ramsey goes to Juventus in the summer will likely be looking for a new club.
The Welshman was whistled and jeered by Madrid's fans during the substitution which, in times gone by, is typically a sign a player's career with the Galacticos is over.
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Following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Spain to Turin and Juventus, the once world record transfer Bale has not stepped up to fill the goal-scoring void. An opportunity missed.
Instead he's lost his place on the left wing to Vinicius Junior. He was given a chance today on the right but it ended in ignominy.
Barca beat Real 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ivan Rakitic in the first half.
Santiago Solari, Real's manager, cut a distressed figure on the touchline. A loss to Barcelona essentially seals them out from the title race, 12 points adrift of the Catalan dragons at full-time and suffering a 5-1 beating the last time they met in La Liga.
The two sides also played in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, which Madrid lost 3-0.
18-year-old Vinicius Junior was Los Blancos' best player in that meeting - the club now turn to him, and not Gareth Bale, in their time of need
