Wednesday night’s Euro 2016 semi-final between Wales and Portugal is significant for a number of reasons, but it’s the matchup of Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale that makes it look like a real glamour tie.
Ronaldo has long been regarded as one of the world’s top two players, but Bale’s £85m move to the Spanish giants in 2013 made him the most expensive player, and although Bale continues to insist that he has no problem with this fellow Galactico, their relationship seems to be constantly scrutinised.
Bale and Ronaldo are both talismanic figures for their respective countries, but while Wales have impressed everyone on the road to the semis, Portugal have stuttered their way through, failing to win even one game in normal time. The Portuguese superstar is yet to really catch fire at the tournament – at least in the way we expect of him – whereas Bale has been one of a number of standout performers for Wales.
Going on history alone, however, would suggest Wales have plenty to be fearful about ahead of the huge match at the Stade des Lumières.
The two have been on opposing sides five times during their careers and Bale is yet to emerge victorious from any of them. Spurs fans will likely remember the most recent clash – a thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final in the 2010/11 season. Tottenham lost 4-0 at the Bernabéu, with Ronaldo getting the final goal of the game. He was also the only scorer in Madrid’s 1-0 second leg win at White Hart Lane.
Ronaldo also lined up against a much younger Bale three times during his time at Manchester United. The first was a 2-1 win for the Reds in the FA Cup in 2009, and United emerged victorious from a penalty shootout in the same year’s Carling Cup competition.
In his last game against Bale’s Tottenham for Manchester United, Ronaldo bagged a brace in a 5-2 win.
Bale still has a long way to go if he wants to equal the achievements of his sensational Real Madrid colleague, but Ronaldo has never won an international trophy. The stakes for Wednesday night’s game could hardly be higher.
