Perhaps the thinking from Zidane was to bring Bale on in the second half to exploit some tired Liverpool legs, with Jurgen Klopp's men always likely to fade after their early intensity.
 
Whatever the plan was, it worked. Liverpool looked deflated after Mohamed Salah departed with a shoulder injury following a rough challenge from Sergio Ramos and even though the two teams went in on level terms at the break, the momentum seemed to have swung in Madrid's favour.
 
It usually does in Champions League finals. The Spanish side took the lead following a calamitous error from Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius, with Karim Benzema the grateful recipient – just as he had been in the semi-final second leg at home to Bayern Munich.
Gareth Bale Marcelo Real Madrid Liverpool UCL
Sadio Mane quickly equalised at the other end, though, and after 61 minutes it was time for Bale to enter. The winger replaced Isco and made virtually an instant impact as he netted an outrageous overhead kick from the edge of the box.
It was an amazing moment of genius - a bicycle kick that rivalled Cristiano Ronaldo's astonishing effort against Juventus in the quarter-final in Turin. For a much-maligned player, a footballer often questioned by the media in Spain and even booed on a number of occasions by fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, it was a particularly sweet individual moment.
 
Late in the game, Bale also added another goal with a long-range effort which was fumbled by the hapless Karius.
 
BDST 0430 HRS, MAY 27, 2018
HL