Gareth Bale has suffered a knee injury that is set to rule him out of at least Real Madrid’s penultimate league game of the season against Valencia on Sunday.
Real are one point behind leaders Barcelona in the Primera Division title race and will not want to be without any of their key players at such a crucial stage of the season.
A statement posted on Real Madrid’s official website said: “Following the tests carried out on Gareth Bale, he has been diagnosed with a joint strain in his right knee. His recovery will continue to be assessed.”
Bale was influential as Real reached the final of the Champions League on Wednesday by beating Manchester City 1-0 in Madrid.
His deflected strike left City goalkeeper Joe Hart stranded, even though it was eventually recorded by UEFA as a Fernando own goal.
The 26-year-old was later left limping in the win, although he completed the 90 minutes as Real set up a final date with city rivals Atletico in Milan on May 28.
News of Bale’s injury will also concern Wales fans as it comes little more than a month before the national team play their first game at Euro 2016 against Slovakia on June 11.
