Gareth Bale will have medical tests today as Real Madrid face an anxious wait to discover whether the Welshman will join Luka Modric on the sidelines for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico on Wednesday.
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Both players were injured during Los Blancos’ 3-1 victory over Malaga at the Bernabeu on Saturday, with Bale lasting just two minutes before limping off with a calf strain on his left leg.
Modric was replaced after an hour, and tests have already confirmed that the Croatian midfielder has suffered a knee sprain which is likely to keep him out for six weeks, meaning he may not play again this season.
And although the Spanish giants will not confirm the severity of Bale’s injury until after today’s scans, manager Carlo Ancelotti and his backroom staff are understood to be pessimistic over his chances of playing on Wednesday.
Bale’s absence would be easier to overcome, with Ancelotti able to field both James Rodriguez and Isco in the wide midfield positions – with Bale in the team, one of them would probably have to miss out.
The loss of Modric, however, is a major blow, especially considering his positive impact upon Madrid’s performances since he returned last month following a four-month absence with a hip injury.
Ironically, Atletico boss Diego Simeone singled out Modric for praise before last week’s first leg, which ended in a goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon.
Now Ancelotti again has to decide how to replace him, with none of the players who filled in during Modric’s previous absence – Asier Illarramendi, mid-season signing Lucas Silva and out-of-favour Sami Khedira – doing anything to prove themselves as reliable options.
Another problem for the Italian is at left-back, where Marcelo is ruled out through suspension and his obvious replacement Fabio Coentrao is only just recovering from a knee injury which has kept him out of action for three weeks.
Gareth Bale will undergo medical tests on Monday morning to determine the extent of his injury. pic.twitter.com/TBRAVDvJEn
— SupportingBale (@SupportingBale) April 19, 2015
Even if he is fully fit, it is by no means certain that Coentrao will be selected on Wednesday because he has been out of favour this season, playing a total of less than five hours of La Liga football all season – fewer than any other senior squad member.
However, Ancelotti was upbeat about Coentrao’s possible involvement against Atletico, saying: “He is the first choice, but we can use Arbeloa or Nacho.
“He has done resistance work and strengthening work. On Monday he will do speed work and on Tuesday he will join the group.”
Finally, Ancelotti is confident Karim Benzema will return after the French striker missed Saturday’s win over Malaga with a knee injury. “I think he will play,” said Ancelotti. “His injury is improving and we have time to get him fit.”
