?Gareth Bale faces tests on a possible ankle injury, after coming off in the second half of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey win over Unionistas de Salamanca on Wednesday evening.
Real Madrid enjoyed a fairly trouble-free evening away against third-tier Salamanca, with Bale opening the scoring on 18 minutes. While the hosts got a surprise equaliser in the second half, it took Madrid – 19 times winners of the competition – five minutes to go back in front, while they eventually won 3-1 on the night.
With ?Barcelona leaving it late as they toiled to a 2-1 victory over UD Ibiza on the same night, Zinedine Zidane and his charges enjoyed a less taxing experience in the revamped Copa, with the only lasting worry Bale’s fitness.
Lo único negativo del @realmadrid esta noche en Salamanca es la torcedura del tobillo de @GarethBale11. Mañana se le harán pruebas. En principio no parece grave El galés marcó el primer gol , aguantó el primer tiempo, pero fue sustituido en los primeros minutos del segundo tiempo
— Melchor Ruiz (@melchorcope) January 22, 2020
??The Welsh forward was taken off in the 53rd minute, apparently nursing an ankle knock.
Speaking after the game, Zidane told ?reporters: “
After the game, COPE journalist Melchior Ruiz was among those to tweet that the initial diagnosis was a sprain, while the player would be tested on Thursday.
Bale has remained a marginalised figure at ?Real Madrid this season under Zidane, starting nine La Liga games and just one in the Champions League, with his only two goals prior to Wednesday night’s effort, coming in the 2-2 draw with Villarreal back in September. Bale was also sent off in that encounter.
The forward continues to be linked with a move away from Madrid, though the likelihood of a deal being done any time soon seems minimal.
?Reports from Spain on Wednesday claimed that Tottenham had made a bid to bring their former star back to London, while Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett – not for the first time – categorically dismissed the notion that his client could leave on loan.
Let’