Real expect Bale return to ease Ronaldo absence blow
Saturday, 8 February 2014 00:00
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Reuters: Real Madrid will be without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Villarreal on Saturday but will expect the return of their record-signing Gareth Bale to ease the blow.
Competition is fierce at the top of the La Liga table with Atletico Madrid now leading the way on 57 points while Real are three behind, and below Barcelona on goal difference, after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao where Ronaldo received a red card and subsequently a three-match ban. Real secured a 3-0 victory in the first leg of the King’s Cup semi-final over Atletico at the Bernabeu on Wednesday but Bale did not play.
That was despite coach Carlo Ancelotti saying ahead of the game that the Welshman had recovered from a calf injury and was ready to play. “He is fine but we decided to leave him out as a precaution,” Ancelotti told a news conference after the match. “He has not suffered another injury. I decided to give him a rest.
“On Saturday if we don’t have Cristiano then to have Bale fresh will be good for us.” Bale, 24, has had an injury-plagued first season at the Bernabeu following his 100 million euro transfer from Tottenham Hotspur and five separate injuries have limited his participation.
Atletico suffered their first defeat in all competitions since they lost to Espanyol in mid-October after a commanding performance from Real.
