Gareth Bale out again as Real face Roma

REAL MADRID fans and football pundits are starting to worry about Gareth Bale’s injury problems. The Welsh winger has been out of action since injuring his calf on January 17 during a match against Sporting Gijon. 

So far this season, the former Spurs player has missed 996 minutes of La Liga and 438 of a possible 540 in the Champions League, while fellow team member Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t missed a single game. 

On February 13, two goals from Ronaldo brought a 4-2 win at the Bernabeu against Athetic Bilbao, pushing Real back into third in the league, one point behind local rivals Athletico and four points adrift of leaders Barcelona, who also have a game in hand over the teams from Madrid. 

Zinedine Zidane’s side now travel to Italy to take on a resurgent Roma in the last sixteen of the Champions League. Speaking to reporters, Zidane confirmed that the Welsh winger would be missing the trip to Italy: “He needs time and we need to be patient because we need Gareth to be 100 per cent fit”.

An undeniable asset to Real, an on-form Bale has scored 13 times in the league this season, which makes him the third highest scorer after Ronaldo (19 goals) and Karim Benzema (21 goals). 

However, injuries are beginning to eclipse Bale’s exceptional talents leading to pundits questioning whether he is harming Madrid’s chances. Since switching to the Bernabeu in September 2013, Bale has suffered from injuries to his hamstring and left thigh, as well as his right and left calf.  

Needless to say, the future of Real’s most expensive signing of all time isn’t looking too bright as his rehabilitation continues to drag on.