In contrast to the Copa del Rey semi-final match, Gareth Bale did start in the LaLiga Clasico. However despite putting Vinicius, Benzema and Bale in the team the result was exactly the same. Another loss for Real Madrid and one in which their attack simply didn't function as a unit.
The player who was singled out for his poor performance was Bale. The Welshman was guilty of not taking advantage of his chance to prove a point. On the "El Chiringuito" television programme, the journalist José Díaz claimed that certain members of Madrid's dressing room feel Bale shouldn't be playing because he "isn't committed to the team".
Real Madrid, knocked out of the Copa del Rey and cut adrift in LaLiga, are only 'alive' in the Champions League. They have to overcome Ajax at the Santiago Bernabeu if they are to progress in Europe.