adminMADRID. — Talk of a crisis at Real Madrid is over for now, but the form of Gareth Bale remains a cause of concern ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Alaves in the Spanish La Liga.
The Welshman was back on the bench for Wednesday’s 3-1 victory at Leganes, his involvement restricted to a late cameo as Zinedine Zidane’s side claimed a fourth consecutive win.
Bale had started in last weekend’s 5-3 success at Betis but failed to impress, having also been left out of the line-up for the 3-1 Champions League soccer win against Paris Saint-Germain.
He has not completed 90 minutes since September due to injury and poor form, and the Madrid media appear to have made their minds up – “Bale’s credit has run out”, said the headline in one piece in sports daily Marca on Thursday.
When Zidane was asked if Bale had been left out in Leganes to protect him, the Frenchman’s response hinted all is not well.
“It was a little bit of everything. I am happy with Gareth, but we need to go little by little with him,” he said. “We want him to find his best form, then we’ll see what we do in the coming games. We are playing well at the moment and I am going to need everyone.”
FIXTURES
Today: Celta Vigo v Eibar (2pm); Real Madrid v Alaves (5:15pm); Leganes v Las Palmas (7:30pm); Barcelona v Girona (9:45pm).
Tomorrow: Villarreal v Getafe (1pm); Athletic Bilbao v Malaga (5:15pm); Valencia v Real Sociedad (7:30pm); Sevilla v Atletico Madrid (9:45pm).
Monday: Levante v Betis (10pm). — AFP
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