Internet Desk: Real Madrid to miss the service of “Welsh Wizard” Gareth Bale as the Spanish Giants are raring to book their berth in a record seventh straight Champions League semi-final against German champions Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
Bale is sidelined by the recurrence of an ankle problem picked up in Madrid’s 2-1 first-leg win last week and is also a doubt for Real’s crunch La Liga clash with Barcelona on Sunday.
Bale was out of action for three months earlier in the season after suffering ligament injury in his right ankle.
“Gareth worked very hard to get back into the team after his injury,” said Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Monday.
“When he came back he was desperate to be involved and now he has a small niggle that is preventing him from being fully fit.
“I hope it is nothing and in a few days he can be with us again.
“He won’t be fit for Bayern because we don’t want to take any risks.”
Bale missed Real’s 3-2 win at Sporting Gijon on Saturday and Zidane was far from confident he will be fit in time to face Barca.
“I hope he will be with us, but we have to wait and see,” he added.
“It is a question of taking it day by day.”