Real Madrid star Gareth Bale appears set to miss the upcoming La Liga Clasico at Barcelona after injuring ankle tendons in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon.
Bale hurt his right ankle early in the first half of the game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in a challenge with Sporting defender Sebastian Coates. The Wales international received lengthy treatment and then attempted to play on but was soon replaced by playmaker Marco Asensio.
Although Blancos coach Zinedine Zidane was cautious when asked about the extent of the problem after the game, tests carried out on Madrid's return to the Spanish capital have shown a "traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons of his right ankle."
AS reports that the injury will require at least three or four weeks' recuperation.
This means that Bale, 26, has little chance of being able to play in the game at Barcelona on Dec. 3 or the Champions League Group F decider at home to Borussia Dortmund four days later, while his participation in the Club World Cup in Japan later that month is also under threat.
The injury was confirmed in a Madrid statement released on Wednesday afternoon, which did not give any details of how long the club expected him to be absent.
"After tests carried out on our player Gareth Bale he has been diagnosed with a traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons of his right ankle," the statement read. "His recovery will continue to be assessed."
However, there was more positive news as holding midfielder Casemiro returned to training on Wednesday, and is expected to feature from the bench in Saturday's La Liga game at home to Sporting Gijon.