Just as you thought he would, Gareth Bale returned to haunt Tottenham on Tuesday night, albeit in a pre-season friendly.
The Welshman, up against his former employers for the first time since he joined Real Madrid for a world-record £86million in 2013, rifled a 25-yard drive past stand-in goalkeeper Michel Vorm to cap a 2-0 victory for Rafa Benitez’s men in the Audi Cup semi-final in Munich.
Bale, 26, had been hard working but relatively quiet against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, playing as a number 10 rather than on the wing.
But he burst into life on 79 minutes to seal victory for the Spaniards in a sometimes feisty clash at the Allianz Arena after Colombia star James Rodriguez’s simple header had given the La Liga giants a first-half lead.
Bale declined the opportunity to celebrate and was substituted shortly after his goal, but his sumptuous hit was a reminder of what Spurs fans used to feast on at White Hart Lane.
It was also the highlight of an often tedious affair.
Pre-season friendlies tend to be like the last day at school. Everyone is there and they all look the same, but nobody is acting like they usually do and nobody learns anything.
However, if anything is to be gleaned from this kick-about in stifling Bavarian heat, it is that injured Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris cannot come back quick enough and that bad defensive habits die hard.
Last season, despite finishing fifth, Spurs shipped 53 goals – the same number as Burnley.
Against a Madrid side operating at half pace and stripped of the injured Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, they were rarely exposed but when they were it was all too familiar.
There appeared to be little danger when former Manchester City target Isco whipped in a first half free kick in from the left but Vorm, standing in for Lloris, came for the ball and promptly changed his mind. At the same time Eric Dier and Danny Rose allowed Colombia star James to nip between them and head home.
Vorm may also have done more to keep out Bale’s clincher.
Before the game Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino had spoken of the need to become stronger defensively. That message stands.
Elsewhere Harry Kane, playing upfront on his own in a 4-2-3-1, was quiet against a back four which included Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.
It is safe to say he will not play against too many defences with that quality in the coming Premier League season.
One man who did make an impact was Christian Eriksen, who engaged in a bizarre running battle with Manchester United target Ramos.
At half-time Spurs players surrounded the referee complaining about the Madrid captain’s conduct and in the second half Guenter Perl heeded their calls when he showed Ramos a yellow card after he went through the back of his nemesis for the evening.
Despite his goal, for long periods Bale was quiet.
Former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas saw the 26–year-old as a number 10 and moved him in from the wing.
That switch prompted unrest among the White Hart Lane faithful whose chant of ‘he plays on the left’ may soon make its way to the Bernabeu where Madrid boss Benitez appears to have followed the Portugese’s lead.
Bale looks to be wasted behind the striker, robbed of the space on the flank to use his explosive pace, although when he did eventually find some room he was lethal.
Spurs did have chances, with Eriksen lively, but it was a game of little quality.
Indeed, the biggest cheer of the game came in the second half when, during a break in play, the stadium’s big screens showed the Bayern bus arriving at the stadium.
And when Arjen Robben’s bald head was spotted at the front of the tunnel moments later it prompted more applause from a bored sellout who were finding ways to entertain themselves.
Positives? Tottenham came through this injury free, which is the most important thing - and there was no repeat of the 2011 Champions League mauling which saw them go down 5-0 over two legs to the big spenders.
Indeed, the biggest cheer of the game came in the second half when, during a break in play, the stadium’s big screens showed the Bayern bus arriving at the stadium.
And when Arjen Robben’s bald head was spotted at the front of the tunnel moments later it prompted more applause from a bored sellout who were finding ways to entertain themselves.
Positives? Tottenham came through this injury free, which is the most important thing - and there was no repeat of the 2011 Champions League mauling which saw them go down 5-0 over two legs to the big spenders.
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