Real Madrid star a doubt for Bayern Munich return leg

Gareth Bale is a huge doubt for Real Madrid’s clash with Bayern Munich next week after being left out of the squad that will face Sporting Gijon on Saturday through injury.

The Wales international has endured a frustrating season full of injuries and he only lasted 59 minutes of their 2-1 win away to Bayern during the week before being forced off with a minor calf injury.

Madrid will be looking to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to five points when they face Sporting Gijon on Saturday lunchtime but Zinedine Zidane’s side will have to do so without Bale, who now faces a race to be fit for their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.

“He will not be with us tomorrow, that is clear, after that we will see,” Sky Sports quote Zidane as saying. “It is a muscular problem, it is where he had his operation. When he started to play again it has bothered him.

“It is true that I am concerned. I don’t like to see my players injured and even more so in the final straight of the season.”

This season has almost been a write off for Bale, who has only managed 16 league starts this season after missing three months of the season following ankle surgery in November.

Nevertheless, only Cristiano Ronaldo (19), Alvaro Morata (11) and Karim Benzema (9) have scored more league goals for Madrid this season than Bale (7).

For more stats on Gareth Bale, click here to visit his WhoScored player page