Tottenham’s meeting with Wolfsberger this evening has seen Gareth Bale take centre stage, as the Welshman goes about reminding onlookers of his true abilities.
Spurs on top
Jose Mourinho’s men got their European campaign back underway a short time ago.
The Lilywhites made the trip to the Puskas Arena in Budapest, for the first of two Europa League round-of-32 meetings with Austrian outfit Wolfsberger.
Spurs headed into proceedings as understandable favourites to emerge victorious, with their underdog opponents altogether inexperienced at such a level of football.
Few, though, would likely have predicted just how dominant the ‘visitors’ would go on to prove, over the course of the first-half.
With just 45 minutes played, Tottenham boasted a 3-goal advantage, amid a fine all-round performance.
Heung-min Son set Jose Mourinho and co. on their way inside the opening quarter of an hour, after being teed up by Gareth Bale.
Spurs’ on loan wide-man went then turned goalscorer himself a short time later, before the Premier League giants all but killed the tie off as a contest just past the half-hour mark through Lucas Moura:
Brilliant Bale
Wolfsberger, to their credit, have since gone on to pull one back, but it is Tottenham who, as things stand, nevertheless remain in firm control of proceedings at the Puskas Arena.
And, as outlined above, amid the action in Budapest, it is the name of one man which has taken centre stage in the online chatter.
The player in question? Gareth Bale.
Welshman Bale has of course endured a difficult campaign to date, since making the move back to the English capital on loan from Real Madrid.
The 31-year-old has often been accused of displaying a lack of interest, with moments of real quality few and far between.
Over the course of the first-half this evening, though, Bale served up a timely reminder of just how special he can still be, when firing on all cylinders.
The Blancos loanee looked, in flashes, back to his wonderful best, with the highlight of a showing filled with intent having come just shy of the half-hour mark, when Bale cut inside to lash home a fine left-footed strike:
