Bale didn't play for a single minute in Brugge clash

Everyone was waiting for Gareth Bale in Bruges, but the Welshman didn't play for a single minute.

Nobody expected him to stay on the bench for the whole night, but he did. Moreover, he was expected to feature against Espanyol, but Real Madrid decided to delay his return.

"I had three changes to make and I chose another player," Zinedine Zidane said after the game.

But the reality is that Bale still isn't in Real Madrid's plans.

He's only started once since October 5, which came against Alaves, and he's only managed 112 minutes in two months.

Now, the idea that Zidane places Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes ahead of him can't be dismissed.

The Frenchman's decisions were revealing, and Bale's prominence is slipping again.