Bale Returns

After picking up an ankle injury in November, Gareth Bale could return to action this weekend, ahead of schedule.

The Welsh international made 16 appearances for Madrid at the start of the season, scoring seven goals, before picking up an ankle injury against Sporting Lisbon in November, which has seen him watching from the sidelines ever since.

Real manager Zinedine Zidane revealed that Bale had returned to training this week, and after missing out on selection for the midweek Champions League victory over Napoli, Bale is expected to be amongst the matchday squad for Saturday's match against Espanyol.

Prior to the transfer of Paul Pogba to Manchester United in the summer, Bale was the most expensive player in the world, and has become an essential part off the Real Madrid side. He was also a crucial player for his country, as he captained Wales to a successful Euro 2016 campaign, where many expected them to fall at the group stage.

Real Madrid are currently sitting top of La Liga and also carry a healthy lead into the second leg of the Champions League final 16, meaning that Zidane will not be forced to throw Bale straight into the starting lineup. It is expected that Bale will feature from the bench for the next few weeks in order to build match fitness and hopefully prevent a repeat injury.