Euro 2016 semi-final between Portugal and Wales will be sixth time Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have faced off
Real Madrid team-mates will do battle in Lyon in first meeting since 2011 — and SunSport looks back at previous encounters
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It is being billed as the epic showdown between the world’s two most expensive footballers of all-time.
Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo are the respective superstars of semi-finalists, Wales and Portugal — and will go head-to-head in Lyon.
Both are the leading players for their countries, and their team-mates will be depending on them.
The Real Madrid pair have been together at the Bernabeu for three seasons but will now be on opposing sides for the sixth time.
In order to prepare for what’s in store on Wednesday, SunSport looks back at their previous five meetings.
And it doesn’t make for pretty reading for Welsh fans.
Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1, 2009
Bale didn’t feature for Spurs in any of their three meetings with the Red Devils in his first season at White Lane — and missed the early 0-0 draw in his second.
His first appearance against United came in an FA Cup fourth round tie at Old Trafford.
Roman Pavlyuchenko had given Tottenham a surprise lead on five minutes.
But Paul Scholes equalised on 35 and Dimitar Berbatov condemned his former club to elimination with a superb strike.
Neither Bale or Ronaldo had any real impact, with the former replaced by Adel Taarabt on 67 minutes and Zoran Tosic introduced in place of the latter for his United debut five minutes later.
Manchester United 0 Tottenham 0 aet (4-1 pens), 2009
Spurs were the League Cup holders as they met United in the final.
Ronaldo was part of a United starting line-up which included youngsters, Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck as Sir Alex Ferguson rested players following a midweek Champions League tie at Inter Milan.
While Bale was a sub, replacing Jermaine Jenas eight minutes into Extra Time.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster was the United hero as he meticulously studied Tottenham’s penalty practice on an iPad.
He saved from Jamie O’Hara and David Bentley hit his spot-kick wide.
While United — including Ronaldo — were faultless, as they claimed a third League Cup victory.
Manchester United 5 Tottenham 2, 2009
One of the more controversial meetings between the pair.
Spurs raced into a half-time lead with goals from Darren Bent and Luka Modric to stun the Premier League champions elect.
However, the game turned when Howard Webb awarded United a controversial penalty on 56 minutes.
Ronaldo tucked it away before Wayne Rooney equalised and the Red Devils’ No.7 completed the turnaround.
There was still time for the current United and England captain to score a fourth and Berbatov to get in on the act again against his former club.
Bale replaced Modric with four minutes remaining.
Real Madrid 4 Tottenham 0, 2011
Bale was already becoming a star after his hat-trick in a 4-3 defeat to Champions League holders, Inter Milan.
Spurs were enjoying their maiden campaign in Europe’s premier competition, and had eliminated seven-times winners, AC Milan, en route to quarter-final meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring after four minutes for the Spanish side — and Peter Crouch’s two yellow cards inside 15 minutes gave Tottenham a mountain to climb.
The Togo ace added a second after the interval, before Angel Di Maria made it three.
And Ronaldo — who was enjoying a stellar campaign — completed the rout three minutes from time.
Bale was now an integral part of the Spurs side, but was unable to make an impact against his future employers.
Tottenham 0 Real Madrid 1, 2011
The tie was effectively over as Tottenham welcomed Real Madrid to White Hart Lane.
Spurs held out for 50 minutes, but Ronaldo eventually managed to find a way through.
And it was Real Madrid who set up a mouthwatering semi-final against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
This was Bale’s last meeting against the Portuguese star before they joined forces in the Spanish capital.
And he ended it on a worryingly poor record of 0-5.