I wouldn't say all about speed, but his main two assets (speed and long shots) are some of the best in the world, and he uses them very well. You're right in that he is nowhere not a very intelligent player, and I found once you cut out his run on the wing or the cut-inside, he is incredibly limited and doesn't have a plan B. He just uses what he has and does it very efficiently.
Oh completely; the papers are calling it a wonder goal, I see it as using his biggest weapon effectively against a slow CB, and recovering really well from a disastrous touch in the box. They allowed him to completely tear them apart as Alves, Pedro or Busquets were nowhere to be seen on the right, leaving Bartra to fend for himself, was always going to be a disaster. Bale also had so many good opportunities to play his teammates in, but he selfishly took about 5 shots to himself. Could have been a totally different score had he used his brain.
), in the majority of their attacks RM created an overload, the Barça MF basically hung the DF out to dry. How RM didn't win this game by at least three clear goals I'll never know. T'was the same v Atlético in the CL and peculiarly also only a 1-goal margin.