contract that expires in 2019 is expected to be extended to the summer of 2021 or beyond.

As Cristiano Ronaldo continues to adapt his game, Gareth Bale has the chance to become Real Madrid’s most important attacking player, writes Adam Bate. Bart Starr Jersey . According to Guillem Balague, it was only when it became apparent that Cristiano Ronaldo was likely to be staying at Real Madrid this summer that Robert Lewandowski cooled on the idea of signing for the Spanish club. It was the enormous potential of a Bale-Lewandowski partnership that appealed to the Pole. Competing with Ronaldo was a different matter.Its a nugget of information that puts Bales decision to join Real in the summer of 2013 into context. The Welshman had made his name at Tottenham by showcasing a similar skill-set to Ronaldo with his dribbles down the flank, long-range shots and distinct style of taking free-kicks. Indeed, Bale has visibly modelled his approach on the celebrated forward. So its perhaps understandable that there have been times in his three-year stay in Madrid that finding the right role within the team has not seemed straightforward. While predecessor Mesut Ozils reputation for selflessness complemented Ronaldo perfectly, Bales similarity was seen as something that counted against him. See Bales latest trick as he juggles a golf ball between a club and his feet The statistics bore that out in that first season. While the campaign was a triumphant one, culminating in a Champions League victory in which both men scored, Ronaldos presence did inhibit Bales effectiveness. In fact, he netted more goals in the seven games he started without Ronaldo than the 17 in which they were named in the starting line-up together.Even now his scoring record when Ronaldos not around is a goal a game. In his first two seasons in Madrid, he scored 19 in 44 starts when the Portuguese played too. However, those numbers began to change last season. Bale scored 15 goals in 19 La Liga games alongside Ronaldo and suggestions of issues between the pair began to dissipate. Bale stepping out of the shadow? With Ronaldo Without Ronaldo Apps Goals Apps Goals 2013/14 17 7 7 8 2014/15 27 12 3 1 2015/16 19 15 2 3 TOTAL 63 34 12 12 There were several factors in that. Rafael Benitez had prioritised Bales positioning, giving him opportunities more centrally, and Zinedine Zidane continued to encourage this freedom of movement. But the biggest change was simply the ticking of time. The 31-year-old Ronaldo is a very different animal to the one that once tore at opposition defences.In their first season together, Bale and Ronaldo averaged 2.5 and 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes respectively. But Ronaldos dribbling numbers have been falling year on year to such a degree that last season he recorded the lowest figures of his career to date. His dribbling days are all but over. Its as an accumulator of goals that he excels now. Dribbling differences Dribbles per 90 Gareth Bale Cristiano Ronaldo Difference 2013/14 2.5 2.4 +0.1 2014/15 2.3 1.6 +0.7 2015/16 2.2 1.4 +0.8 He is now just a goalscorer, La Liga expert Terry Gibson told Sky Sports. He is now almost a full centre-forward. It was in this role that Ronaldo helped Portugal to glory at the European Championship this summer, scoring three times - including the opener against Bales Wales in the semi-final - but seldom being involved in the build-up play.Ronaldos game has changed and the onus is on him to adapt. But for Bale, its an opportunity for him to seize the initiative and become the driving force of this Real Madrid team. The players who were once deemed too similar can now complement each other - the dribbler and the finisher. Those at the club are far from oblivious to the changes. Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. Guillem Balague Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid, said Balague recently. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. He is picked to play in and around the box so there is more work to do for the others and more work to do for Bale.Bales efforts in France impressed in Spain. In his AS column, Lothar Matthaus rated him alongside Antoine Griezmann as one of the two faces of Euro 2016 while Marca talked of his reputation and importance to Real Madrid continuing to grow. A contract that expires in 2019 is expected to be extended to the summer of 2021 or beyond. In the more immediate future, theres a big season ahead. Bale reports for duty at the end of July having had some time to relax, proposing to his long-time partner and embarking on a golf tour of Scotland. His competitive return will come in the European Super Cup against Sevilla in Trondheim in the first week of August. Ronaldo will not be fit.The plan for Zidane and Real is that the 2016/17 journey ends with what theyre already calling Duodecima - the clubs 12th European Cup success. And where is the final to be played? Bales home city of Cardiff. He might have lost his personal battle with Ronaldo at Euro 2016, but Bale could yet be the big winner as the power shifts at Real Madrid. Win Sky Q Ultra HD with Sky Sports 43 LG TV plus a Sky Q Ultra HD package including Sky Sports to be won EVERY DAY - enter now! Also See: WATCH: Bales golf skills Ronaldo wants new deal Lane Taylor Jersey .com) - On the bright side, either the Minnesota Wild or Buffalo Sabres will end their losing streak on Thursday night. Vince Biegel Jersey .com) - Manchester City will face a steep test in the Champions League knockout stage as the English champions were drawn with Barcelona on Monday. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Mike-Daniels-Packers-Jersey/ . Messis 75th-minute goal answered some of the criticism the clubs all-time leading scorer had received for his lacklustre performances in the teams recent losses in the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey final.MONTREAL -- Now that Hernan Bernardello has settled in with the Montreal Impact, perhaps the new designated player from Argentina call tell them something about winning games away from home. The Impact (12-7-5) looked stunning in their new starting alignment with Bernardello and veteran Patrice Bernier anchoring the midfield as they won their last two games at home, including last weeks 5-0 pasting of Sporting Kansas City. They hope to make it three wins in a row when they face the Union (10-8-8) in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Except that the Impact are 0-3-2 on the road since their last win in Kansas City on June 1. But the squad has a new look with Bernardello in the starting 11, helping to reduce space for opponents on the defensive side of the ball and to get the ball forward to Major League Soccer scoring leader Marco Di Vaio and the other attacking players. "Hes an experienced player who has played at a high level," midfielder Justin Mapp said Friday. "With him sitting alongside Patrice it brings two experienced guys who are good on the ball and can win the ball back for us when we push numbers forward on the counter or whatever." The 26-year-olds arrival has moved coach Marco Schallibaum and his staff to tweak the starting lineup. It has the same back line with Alessandro Nesta and Matteo Ferrari in the central defence between Hassoun Camara and Jeb Brovsky. Bernier and Bernardello play at the back of the midfield, with Mapp and Andres Romero on the wings, Felipe Martins in the centre and Di Vaio up front. They bumped captain Davy Arnaud from the lineup, but he has been coming off the bench in recent games. The Impact say the lineup is not cast in stone, but it looked like something worth keeping together against Kansas City. "Its important to have a typical team, but in the end, were a group and weve seen that every player can bring something to the team," said Camara. "Davy Arnaud didnt start last weeek, but when he came in he brought something. Jordy Nelson Jersey. "Were 27 in our group and we all bring something." The team will be have assistant coach Mauro Biello running the bench for a second game in a row as Schallibaum completes his two-game suspension for a blow-up against D.C. United two weeks ago. But the Swiss Volcano, suspended four times this season, has been active in training all week and his message has been about getting off to strong starts on the road. A list was posted in the locker room showing that in their last five road games the team has surrendered a goal within six minutes three times. Another came in the 10th minute and the other in the 19th. That is not a recipe for winning. "Its something you work on mostly from the mental aspect," said Biello. "We did that this week and were hoping to be ready from the start. "For a while now when weve been on the road weve had defensive problems. Well try to change that and not give the opponent as much space." It will help that the team is on a high after winning big against Kansas City. Di Vaio scored twice for a second game in a row and leads MLS with 15 goals. Felipe, Brovsky and substitute Andrea Pisanu also scored, while Mapp had two assists and hit a crossbar. The win put Montreal into first place in the Eastern Conference with two games in hand on their closest pursuers. But as good as theyve been at home, they have won only three times on the road this season. It wont be easy in Philadelphia, where the Union are smarting from a 5-1 loss to New England in their last outing. The Union are dangerous on attack with Sebastien Le Toux, who leads MLS with 12 assists, and forwards Jack McInerney, who has 10 goals, and Conor Casey, who has scored nine. There is concern for Ferrari, who left practice early on Friday with an illness. Biello said only that recently signed Spaniard Adrian Lopez "is an option" if Ferrari is out. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '