Bale is set to start for Real tonight as they face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in their first competitive match without Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo left the Bernabeu after nine years earlier this summer, joining Juventus on a four-year deal.
There was speculation during the summer over the future of Bale who was linked with a move to Manchester United.
But he stayed at Real Madrid and has now been backed to shine by Lopetegui, who is taking charge in his first competitive match after Zinedine Zidane left.
“We love that (Bale) is with us,” Lopetegui said.
“He is so motivated with a lot of hope and he’s been working well since the beginning of the season. “We’re delighted with his attitude and his desire, he’s an ultra professional who is training with the desire of a youth teamer.
“We are convinced he will have a great season.”
Ronaldo moved to Juventus a few months after netting a stunning overhead kick in Turin in the Champions League, earning a standing ovation from the home crowd.
And the former Manchester United star recently revealed that the reception he got for his brilliant goal in April was a factor in deciding to move to Italy.
“I felt surprised at the beginning,” Ronaldo said in an interview with JuventusTV.
“I am used to following Juve and I like the club, but since that moment I liked them even more.
“I won’t say it was the key point in my decision, but every detail helps. Maybe. Of course, it helps when you see the people like you, the supporters and club like you, the feeling is completely different.
“Unbelievable. I remember every day, that never happened to me before. In the Champions League against Juve, a quarter-final, you score a goal and see everyone in the stadium applaud you. It was an unbelievable feeling.
“I don’t have a precise moment when I decided [to join]. During the years, we played a few times against Juve and I had a special feeling that the Italian supporters like Cristiano.”
Ronaldo will make his Serie A debut for Juventus on Saturday as the Old Lady travel to Chievo .
Bale’s stunning overhead kick in the Champions League final has been overlooked in a goal of the season poll conducted by UEFA.
The Wales international scored with a brilliant acrobatic effort – one of two he scored in the game – as Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Kiev to claim their 13th European crown.
Despite the sensational nature of the strike, it is another brilliant overhead kick, by Cristiano Ronaldo, which has been nominated as the Champions League entrant for the 2017-18 vote on UEFA.com, the European governing body’s website.
Ronaldo, then also of Real Madrid, performed his bicycle kick as the Spanish giants beat Juventus – the club he has since joined – 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie in Turin.
UEFA’s technical observers said the goal was “an extraordinary display of technique and athleticism”.
The shortlist features 11 goals in total, one from each of the competitions run by UEFA.
England international Lucy Bronze is nominated for the volley she scored in Lyon’s victory over her former club Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League.
England Under-19 international Elliot Pemberton also makes the list following a fine piece of skill and left-foot strike against Turkey.
The first of the three goals scored by Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen in Denmark’s 5-1 win over the Republic of Ireland a World Cup qualifying play-off in Dublin is also included.