Real Madrid handed Bale fitness boost
Despite missing out on the club’s pre-season tour, Gareth Bale is now hoping to play a part in their forthcoming clash against Sevilla.
Despite missing out on the club’s pre-season tour, Gareth Bale is now hoping to play a part in their forthcoming clash against Sevilla.
As the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla approaches, Gareth Bale has made it clear he wants to play, impressing his coaching staff with his physique and work rate after returning to Real Madrid training.
The Welshman was given extended leave following his success at Euro 2016, but used his holiday to train so he would be fighting fit for the important clash in Trondheim.
His hard work looked to have paid off when he joined in almost the same exercises as his teammates who returned from their North America tour on Thursday, having already had more than 15 days of training.
Such determination could mean the 27-year-old sees some action on Tuesday, despite having only three training sessions to prepare.
Although Zinedine Zidane said it would be difficult to include him, the Wales international could get his chance to play in Los Blancos’ opening final of the season.
If included, he may be the only member of the BBC on the pitch in Norway.
Cristiano Ronaldo is ruled out because he is still recovering from the knee injury he picked up with Portugal against France last month.
Karim Benzema only finished the first part of training on Saturday and still has discomfort in his back and hip.
“Those who have not been in the pre-season tour still have to return and we’ll see how they are in Madrid,” said the coach after their last friendly against Bayern Munich.
Now they are back in the Spanish city and Bale will travel to Norway, although it’s in the Frenchman’s hands whether to play him in his starting XI.
However, there are further worries for the Super Cup showdown with several important players being absent.
As well as Ronaldo and Benzema, if he does not recover in time, Toni Kroos only returned to training three days before the final but has not played a single minute with his team.
Pepe is also unavailable after winning Euro 2016 with Portugal on July 10.