Bale has had a nightmarish 12 months with injuries since rupturing ankle ligaments in a Champions League game at Sporting Lisbon a year ago, which required surgery and kept him out for three months. The winger has had persistent problems with muscle injuries since then, and has admitted in interviews that he regrets rushing back to action after ankle surgery. "I don't know when he will play," Zidane added. "We'll see, but he feels good and today he trained without any pain. We know what he can bring to us. He is strong, powerful, very good technically and he works hard. When he has played he has always done well."Gareth Bale is back in training at Real Madrid but will have to wait to make his comeback. Sergio Ramos is also out this weekend: https://t.co/TUs4guJc7O pic.twitter.com/2a2VuMUwan
— Goal (@goal) November 24, 2017
Real, who are third in the Liga standings, have won six out of 10 games in all competitions in Bale's absence, drawing two and losing two. They face Malaga on Saturday hoping to eat into their 10-point deficit with Liga leaders Barcelona, who meet second placed Valencia on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash. Real have faced heavy criticism for falling so far behind their arch rivals after sweeping to the Liga and Champions League double last term, but they did enjoy a cathartic 6-0 win over APOEL Nicosia on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice to take his European tally to eight goals this season despite only scoring once in the league, while heavily criticised forward Karim Benzema also got on the scoresheet. Winger Marco Asensio is injured for the game while captain Sergio Ramos is a doubt after breaking his nose in last week's goalless derby at Atletico Madrid.Gareth Bale is back in training, but Zinedine Zidane won't be taking any chances with him.https://t.co/sNACsj1DMj pic.twitter.com/kuZdBCwK6g
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 24, 2017
The Fall of Gareth Bale: https://t.co/p3I8kzG3AK@bghayward looks at where it's all gone wrong for the chronically injured winger pic.twitter.com/Emt1dvP4wk
— Goal (@goal) November 20, 2017