Neues » Ross retired Yasiel Puig on a grounder to shortstop

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. Ryan Kalil 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 Donte Jackson Youth Jersey . - Tom Brady was upset that his New England Patriots hardly looked like a division champion in the first half. Greg Little Panthers Jersey . - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to meet with Richie Incognito to determine if one of the central figures in the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal can help their struggling offensive line. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-greg-little-blue-jersey/ . - No matter the lineup or location, the San Antonio Spurs are rolling through the NBA again this spring, just the way they have for most of the last two decades.SAN DIEGO - Same pitcher, different approach, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Josh Beckett couldnt be happier. "Josh was good, and it was a lot of the same thing," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Keeping guys off-balanced." Becketts reinvention continued Saturday night in the Dodgers 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres. His lively right arm which once produced one fastball after another has found new life by easing up. "Its a little easier the other way, but its been good," Beckett said. "Im locating my curveball, too. Its not like Im throwing curveballs down the middle. Im back-dooring them to lefties and getting them away to righties and getting them out front." Beckett (5-4) pitched seven strong innings, and Hanley Ramirez drove in two runs. Beckett, in his first start against San Diego this year, allowed four hits and two walks. No Padres reached second base, and San Diego never had more than one runner on base at a time against him. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 21st save in 24 chances, one night after allowing three runs for the loss. Tyson Ross (6-7) worked seven innings for San Diego. But the story was Beckett working over the Padres hitters. "(Beckett) had that tantalizing curveball all night long, all different counts," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He kept it down in the strike zone and he was throwing it for a called strike right at the knee. He threw enough fastballs to keep us honest." Beckett continued his stellar work against NL West teams, tying a season-high with eight strikeouts and lowering his ERA to 1.40 against divisional foes. "The way I pitch is different," said Beckett, who is 4-1 on the road with a no-hitter and a 1.88 ERA. "I never really felt like I had to give in." Becket had plenty of praise for Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, who reached base three times and scored two runs. "Any time he gets on base our chances of scoring go way up," Beckett said. "Hes special over there." Los Angeles, which collapsed in the ninth inning of a loss on Friday nigght, has won six of eight and nine of 12. Jordan Scarlett Panthers Jersey. Mattingly said it was important to see Jensen return successfully after his meltdown. "That closer has to be able to clean the slate," Mattingly said. "You see them over the years, and guys are going to give up runs. That is just the way it is. "The key is to bounce back, and that has where Kenley has been pretty good. I think he has grown up into this role, to be able to clear the mind and go back out there the next day." Ross delivered a solid effort in his first start since walking seven in a loss at Seattle. He allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Ross was again done in by the Padres weak offence, which failed to score him a run for the fourth straight outing. In five of Ross last seven starts, the Padres have produced nothing offensively. Beckett kept the Padres baffled with an assortment of offspeed pitches. He improved to 6-2 in nine career starts against him. The Dodgers took a 4-0 edge in the eighth inning on Adrian Gonzalezs run-scoring single. Ramirez put the Dodgers ahead 3-0 in the fifth inning. He lined a single to left to extend his hitting streak to nine games and score Justin Turner. With runners on the corners, Ross retired Yasiel Puig on a grounder to shortstop. The Dodgers broke the scoreless tie in the third on Gordons single, which scored Drew Butera after he opened the inning with a single. Gordon then stole his major league best 39th base and took third on second baseman Jace Petersons error. Matt Kemps sacrifice fly scored Gordon to give the Dodgers had a 2-0 lead. Kemps hitting streak reached nine games when he singled in the sixth. NOTES: Puig was in the starting lineup after leaving Fridays game with a strained left hip muscle. ... INF Juan Uribe (strained right hamstring) could rejoin the team for Sundays series finale. . Padres 3B Chase Headley (back) is expected to avoid the DL. With Headley sidelined, Rivera is taking ground balls at third. ... Dodgers LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (8-3, 3.13) faces Padres LHP Eric Stults (2-9, 5.76) on Sunday. ' ' '