Madrid's Real coach Zinedine Zidane received bad news from the club's doctors - one of the team leaders Gareth Bale will not recover in time for the start of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. The 26-year-old footballer suffered a calf injury on January 17th during the match against Sporting Gijon. After examinations following the injury, it was expected that Bale would recover in time for the Champions League match against Roma, but the doctors did not give the green light to the footballer. Madrid's newspaper "Marca" states that due to the prolonged injury, G. Bale may not play the entire spring season, with the earliest possible return date being March 8th, when Real will face Roma in the return match. This means that without the former Tottenham striker, the Whites will most likely have to adapt in the Madrid derby taking place on February 27th. Before the injury, G. Bale was in excellent athletic form. In 15 matches this season, he scored 13 goals and made nine assists. It is worth noting that Real will play the entire spring season without Marcelo's help.
