Bale to miss PSG clash
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| AFP |
Gareth Bale is set to miss Real Madrid's crucial UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday after suffering the recurrence of a calf injury.
"A muscle injury in his left calf has been diagnosed," the club said in a statement after Bale underwent tests having sat out training.
The Welshman had only just returned from a near three-week absence caused by an injury in the same calf against Shakhtar Donetsk on 15 September. Bale made his first start since then for Madrid in Saturday's 3-0 win over Levante, but was substituted at half-time with coach Rafael Benitez claiming he was fatigued after playing two full games on international duty as Wales sealed their qualification for UEFA EURO 2016. Wales secured their place in a major international tournament for the first time since 1958 despite a 2-0 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their penultimate qualifier, but Bale still played the full 90 minutes against minnows Andorra three days later.
"I don't think [Real Madrid] wanted me to play 90 minutes against Andorra, but I wanted to play, I wanted to help the team and enjoy the occasion and get a goal," he told Wales Online.
Madrid are riddled with injury problems ahead of their visit to the French champions, with the two games between the sides in the next fortnight set to decide who qualifies for the last 16 as group winners. James Rodriguez, Pepe and Dani Carvajal are all expected to miss out in Paris, while Karim Benzema is also a major doubt due to a hamstring strain.
However, Benitez's men were handed a boost by the return of Luka Modric to training on Monday after he missed the win over Levante due to an abductor muscle injury picked up on international duty with Croatia.
Madrid sports daily Marca also reported that captain Sergio Ramos will start against the French champions after overcoming a shoulder injury.