Here are a couple of numbers. Three goals and one assist in four finals, including two game-winners.

Here's another number. Three goals and zero assists in three finals, but two of those goals came in one game and the other tally was off a penalty with the score at 3-1.

One of these stats belongs to the reigning Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. The other belongs to Gareth Bale. Can you guess which belongs to which?

If you guessed that Scenario No.1 belonged to the clutch Ronaldo, you would be wrong. Ronaldo played in three finals this year with Real Madrid and had one game winner in Cardiff against Sevilla in the Euro Super Cup. But that goal was assisted by the other guy -- Bale. The man with the sensational winner against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. The guy who scored the winner in Lisbon, Ronaldo's homeland, to give Madrid La Decima. And also the man who scored the second goal in Madrid's 2-0 win over San Lorenzo to lift the Club World Cup.

Bale is also the man dominating rumor mills and is seen as the one to exit Madrid as soon as January.

That would be a massive mistake. This has been discussed over and over, even on this website, but for one last time here are the main reasons why Gareth Bale should be nowhere near the exit doors of the Santiago Bernabeu:

1. Clutch Performer

He proved it yet again in the Club World Cup. With the score 1-0 and San Lorenzo looking dangerous at intervals, Bale finished off the game with a big goal, albeit a lucky one, to give his team a cushion and essentially kill the game.

It was a far cry from his big one against Barca in the Copa del Rey or his even bigger tally against Atletico in the Champions League final. But it reminded everyone that this guy is one who loves the spotlight when it shines brightest. And he always dominates.

2. Terrific Production

It has become popular to claim that Gareth Bale is struggling in Madrid this year.

He has apparently struggled to the tune of seven Spanish League goals and three assists in 12 games. In his first year, he put up 15 goals and 12 assists in 27 appearances. The assists are down, but the goal scoring is just as good if not better. He also has two Champions League goals this season (he had six all of last season).

And he is accomplishing this with a lot less space than in years past. In last season's big year, Bale had a lot of space to use his blazing speed. Madrid played deeper in its end and relied more on a counter attack. Now the team is more proactive and has a tendency to control the ball more, making Bale play higher in the offensive end and also giving him less room to dribble and run by defenders. The fact that he has adapted and produced shows how valuable an asset he is.

A lot has been leveled against his defensive production, which is markedly down from last year and inferior to other players. But it must be noted that he is asked to do less on the other side of the ball because his team is generally holding it anyways. So those numbers would naturally be down as a result.

3. Is Marco Reus Really a Better Replacement?

The prevailing argument is that Madrid wants to sell big on Bale to fit in Marco Reus. Both are around the same age and share similar stats over the last few years. Both have played roughly the same number of games since 2009-10. But Reus would be cheaper and would bring in a ton of money for Madrid.

It makes no sense. While Reus certainly has terrific offensive upside, he does not possess the speed that Bale has. Some might state that this does not matter, especially considering Madrid's game plan. But having Bale's speed gives the attack more versatility. Furthermore, Bale gets dispossessed less than Reus, commits less fouls, gets around the same number of interceptions and has more clearances than the German. In essence, Bale is a better option defensively (though Reus is better at making more tackles, which invariably leads to more fouls).

And most important of all, Bale gets along splendidly with Ronaldo. Who knows how Reus would work with Ronaldo? But there is no question about how Madrid's main man, the one the club aims to keep happiest, feels about the Welshman.