Gareth Bale is set to miss up to three weeks of action with a calf injury picked up at the weekend, delivering another blow to Real Madrid ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico de Madrid.
The Welshman last just three minutes at the weekend against Malaga, a game which Madrid eventually went on to win 3-1 to take them back to within two points of leaders Barcelona with six games remaining.
Bale went for tests on Monday morning and the club confirmed on the official website that the 25-year-old injured the soleus muscle on his left leg.
The statement read: “Following tests carried out on Gareth Bale at the Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left soleus. His progress will be monitored.”
Bale could be a doubt for the semi-final of the Champions League – if they get past their rivals on Wednesday – with the first leg of the next round taking place on May 5/6.
News of Bale’s injury will be a blow for Ancelotti, who is already without Luka Modric and unlikely to be able to call on the services of Karim Benzema for the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
