Real Madrid vs Villarreal. Spanish La Liga.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance62,085.
Friday 22 April 2016 08:42, UK
Gareth Bale is out of Real Madrid's crucial encounter at the top of La Liga at home to Villarreal on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 9pm.
Bale has not been selected in Real's squad because of a minor leg injury, as Zinedine Zidane's side aim to climb to the top of the table.
Wales international Bale has started 18 of 33 league games this season due to injury, missing seven weeks with a calf problem, and he ended Monday's training session early after feeling discomfort.
"We hope it's only a strain and I hope he'll be with us on Saturday," Zidane told a news conference. "The strain is in the back of his leg."
"He is young and can improve. He has a long future here because he has a long contract here. I have a very good relationship with him, he is a simple guy and his Spanish is improving."
As it stands, Barcelona lead the La Liga table on 76 points with Atletico Madrid by virtue of their head-to-head record, while Real sit one point behind in third.
The Villarreal match comes as part of a congested fixture list for Real as they prepare to play three games in six days, but will take confidence from being on a six-game winning streak in the league.
Real have made up nine points on Barca in the last three games, beginning with a 2-1 win over the champions at the Nou Camp, but Zidane said he does not wish the players to get carried away.
"We know we haven't won anything yet and have it all to play for," he said. "I'm not thinking about Barcelona, I'm thinking more about what we have to do.
"You always have difficult moments in the season but that doesn't mean anything because they are still first in the table," added Zidane on Barca's dramatic fall in fortunes.
"They are above us and all we can do is win all our games."
Like Real Madrid, Villarreal also have a continental semi-final on the horizon, with Liverpool awaiting in the Europa League semi-finals.
Villarreal lost 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano last Sunday, ending a run of four straight wins in all competitions.
