injury in time for Tuesday and may be a doubt to
face Barcelona on Sunday
Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale for Tuesday's
Champions league quarter-final second leg against
Bayern Munich, head coach Zinedine Zidane has
confirmed.
Bale was substituted during the second half of last
week's 2-1 victory over the Bundesliga champions at
the Allianz Arena and sat out the 3-2 win at Sporting
Gijon in LaLiga on Saturday.The Wales forward was sidelined for three months due
to ankle tendon surgery this season and was also laid
low by calf issues last term.
As such, Zidane is not willing to take any unnecessary
risks with the 27-year-old.
"Gareth has been working hard to get back and to play
with the side and, after his three months out from injury,
he's come back and was very excited about playing
again," the Frenchman told a pre-match news
conference.
"But he's got a little problem that has come up again.
We hope it's nothing.
"In a few more days he should be back with us.
Tomorrow [Tuesday] he will not be ready. We don't want
to risk anything with him but he should be ready in a few
days.
"He's keen to get back as quick as possible and be with
us, so we'll see from now until the end of the season."
Madrid have entered a pivotal week in their season,
hosting bitter rivals Barcelona - who they hold a three-
point advantage over and have played one game fewer
than - in what could prove to be La Liga's title decider
on Sunday.
"I don't know, I hope so," Zidane said when asked
whether Bale would be back for El Clasico.
"I hope he can be with us. I can't assure you of
anything, I can't tell you anything."
#RMCity
Preparations for Tuesday's Champions League
clash with @FCBayernEN are underway!
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Isco produced a virtuoso display in Gijon, his last-
minute winner the second of two brilliant goals.
The formidable pair of Messi & Dybala
It was an impressive audition to take Bale's place from
a player who has been restricted to just 77 minutes of
Champions League football by Zidane's squad rotation
system this season.
Nevertheless, the Madrid boss was determined to give
very little away.
"It could be Isco, it could be any of them. They're all
ready to play and that's the most important thing for
me," he said.
"I've decided but the problem is I can't tell you. You said
it in your question, everyone is playing well.
It was an impressive audition to take Bale's place from
a player who has been restricted
to just 77 minutes of
Champions League football by Zidane's squad rotation
system this season.
Nevertheless, the Madrid boss was determined to give
very little away.
"It could be Isco, it could be any of them. They're all
ready to play and that's the most important thing for
me," he said.
"I've decided but the problem is I can't tell you. You said
it in your question, everyone is playing well.
"I have to make a choice and I'm happy that they are all
playing to a very high level to make it difficult for me."
On Isco's sparing use in the Champions League, Zidane
added: "There's no explanation. With squad rotation,
with playing with other players, these are things that
happen
"It's just a coincidence. When you look at the statistics,
it's true. It must be tough for him to have only played 77
minutes in the Champions league but we've got a lot of
important games and we'll see what's going to happen
tomorrow."
Sporting 2-3 #RealMadrid
more points ahead of a big week!
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While Zidane must do without one of his star attackers,
Bayern are set to benefit from the return of Robert
Lewandowski after their top scorer sat out the first leg
with a shoulder complaint.
"You know how good he is. He's an authentic number
nine and a great player for Bayern," Zidane said.
"I'm not worried. I know the side they have and know
they're good all over the pitch. We have to be ready,
focused and work on what we have to do."
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