Report: Bale set to miss next 3 games after latest injury
Gareth Bale picked up yet another injury for Real Madrid on Thursday and was forced to depart his side's 2-2 draw with Villarreal with a reported calf problem.
According to Marca, Bale's latest setback in the Spanish capital is expected to sideline the 29-year-old for up to 15 days. That timeline would see him miss a clash with Real Sociedad, a Copa del Rey tie against Leganes, and next weekend's trip to Real Betis.
15 - Gareth Bale has been subbed off more times than any La Liga player this season in all competitions (15). Injured. pic.twitter.com/znqXlL79KH
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 3, 2019
Real boss Santiago Solari bemoaned Bale's injury after his team surrendered a late goal in the draw with Villarreal.
"Gareth leaving like that cost us as he had a problem and we missed that counter-attacking edge, and Gareth is a specialist at just that," Solari said, according to ESPN's Dermot Corrigan. "He got a bang in a challenge with the defender, and felt something and was not able to continue ... He would have allowed us to exploit the spaces Villarreal left when they pressed up."
Plagued by injury problems, Bale has played just 212 times for Real Madrid since his arrival from Tottenham in 2013, scoring 98 goals.
He's been successful in avoiding any long-term layoffs this season, though, and has notched 10 goals and five assists in 23 games in all competitions.