By . Pete Jenson . Follow @@petejenson . The Prince of Wales ready to be crowned King of Spain is how Gareth Bale’s appearance in Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey final has been billed. He is yet to score in the cup in four brief appearances but his 19 goals in all other competitions have left Madrid fans convinced he will step up in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. So far this season he has delivered without Ronaldo – half of his 14 league goals have been scored when his Portuguese team-mate has not been in the side – but games in Spain don’t come much bigger than Clasico cup finals and Diario AS on Wednesday morning referred to this match as ‘the game of his life’. VIDEO Scroll down for Bale's Madrid Moments - The best of Bale's training tricks . Impressive: Bale need just one more goal to reach 20 in his debut season at the Bernabeu . Glory days ahead: Bale could win his first piece of silverware at Real Madrid . Bale has been in Ronaldo’s shadow for most of his first season. Settled in: Bale has lived up to the hype since his world record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur . His worst moment of form and fitness came at the end of last year and he benefited from the Madrid obsession with Ronaldo winning the Ballon d’Or. His blip would have made far more headlines had Ronaldo not been on the brink of being crowned World Player of the Year. Bale is the first galactico spared the intense first season spotlight because it has remained on Ronald, but on Wednesday night the lights will all be on him as Real try to win the Cup for the first time since 2011. Then, it was Ronaldo who got the only goal in an extra-time 1-0 win. Bale has impressed his team-mates this season with some super-human goals. The run from the half-way line against Rayo Vallecano and the perfectly executed first time shot that he squeezed into the corner from 30 yards out against Real Sociedad. But team-mates have also remarked on how detached he remains in the dressing room. It’s a coldness born of not speaking the language; of still adapting to the club that is like no other in the world; but also of a steely determination to succeed. Bale has kept the blinkers on and his team-mates believe that will serve him well as the season heads into the home straight. Line up: Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa posted this picture of Sami Khedira, himself, chairman Florentino Perez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo . Sidelined: World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the clash with a left hamstring problem . When others have been affected by the ever-changing moods of the Bernabeu, Bale has remained completely untouched by both the abuse and the adulation. He has gained the reputation of a man moved only by his own numbers – 15 assists and 19 goals is an incredible first season return. He needs to get his first goal against Barcelona and more importantly, bag his first trophy. Big final: Gareth Bale will be looking to win his first trophy with Real as they face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey . Barcelona boss Tata Martino believes be criticised even if his side beat Real on Wednesday night. 'When I arrived in Barcelona, people were saying I wouldn’t be eating Christmas pudding here,' said the Argentine. 'But now I’m getting ready to eat a nice Easter egg. 'Whatever happens, the analysis of my performance will not be positive. That’s the price you pay for being here.' Deadly duo: Barcelona pair Lionel Messi (centre) and Neymar prepare for Wednesday night's showdown .
Bale will lead Real's attack in Copa del Rey final against Barcelona .
Spanish media have labelled this 'the game of his life'
Welshman has scored 19 goals in his first season at the Bernabeu .
Half his 14 league goals have been scored when Cristiano Ronaldo is out .
Attention on Ronaldo has kept spotlight off Bale .
By . Pete Jenson . Follow @@petejenson . The Prince of Wales ready to be crowned King of Spain is how Gareth Bale’s appearance in Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey final has been billed. He is yet to score in the cup in four brief appearances but his 19 goals in all other competitions have left Madrid fans convinced he will step up in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. So far this season he has delivered without Ronaldo – half of his 14 league goals have been scored when his Portuguese team-mate has not been in the side – but games in Spain don’t come much bigger than Clasico cup finals and Diario AS on Wednesday morning referred to this match as ‘the game of his life’. VIDEO Scroll down for Bale's Madrid Moments - The best of Bale's training tricks . Impressive: Bale need just one more goal to reach 20 in his debut season at the Bernabeu . Glory days ahead: Bale could win his first piece of silverware at Real Madrid . Bale has been in Ronaldo’s shadow for most of his first season. Settled in: Bale has lived up to the hype since his world record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur . His worst moment of form and fitness came at the end of last year and he benefited from the Madrid obsession with Ronaldo winning the Ballon d’Or. His blip would have made far more headlines had Ronaldo not been on the brink of being crowned World Player of the Year. Bale is the first galactico spared the intense first season spotlight because it has remained on Ronald, but on Wednesday night the lights will all be on him as Real try to win the Cup for the first time since 2011. Then, it was Ronaldo who got the only goal in an extra-time 1-0 win. Bale has impressed his team-mates this season with some super-human goals. The run from the half-way line against Rayo Vallecano and the perfectly executed first time shot that he squeezed into the corner from 30 yards out against Real Sociedad. But team-mates have also remarked on how detached he remains in the dressing room. It’s a coldness born of not speaking the language; of still adapting to the club that is like no other in the world; but also of a steely determination to succeed. Bale has kept the blinkers on and his team-mates believe that will serve him well as the season heads into the home straight. Line up: Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa posted this picture of Sami Khedira, himself, chairman Florentino Perez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo . Sidelined: World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the clash with a left hamstring problem . When others have been affected by the ever-changing moods of the Bernabeu, Bale has remained completely untouched by both the abuse and the adulation. He has gained the reputation of a man moved only by his own numbers – 15 assists and 19 goals is an incredible first season return. He needs to get his first goal against Barcelona and more importantly, bag his first trophy. Big final: Gareth Bale will be looking to win his first trophy with Real as they face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey . Barcelona boss Tata Martino believes be criticised even if his side beat Real on Wednesday night. 'When I arrived in Barcelona, people were saying I wouldn’t be eating Christmas pudding here,' said the Argentine. 'But now I’m getting ready to eat a nice Easter egg. 'Whatever happens, the analysis of my performance will not be positive. That’s the price you pay for being here.' Deadly duo: Barcelona pair Lionel Messi (centre) and Neymar prepare for Wednesday night's showdown .
night’s Copa del Rey final has been billed. He is league goals have been scored when his Portuguese referred to this match as ‘the game of his life’. season at the Bernabeu . Glory days ahead: Bale most of his first season. Settled in: Bale has succeed. Bale has kept the blinkers on and his Florentino Perez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo . against Barcelona and more importantly, bag his