Gareth Bale, Luka Modric Injuries Give Real Madrid Champions League Headache

Given that Carlo Ancelotti has not beaten Atletico Madrid once in seven games this season, the last thing he needed before the eighth encounter on Wednesday night was injuries to two key players.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what he got at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Luka Modric and Gareth Bale going off injured.

Per Sport, the Croatian midfielder could miss the rest of the season, while Bale's problem has not yet been fully analysed. Jonathan Coates wrote:

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Luka Modric and Gareth Bale are both set to miss the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

The Croatian could be out for up to six weeks after suffering a blow to his knee against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, Bale hobbled off injured after just four minutes of his side's 3-1 victory. Carlo Ancelotti replaced the Welshman with Javier Hernandez.

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Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Modric injured his knee in the second half, in a challenge with Recio, while it took just four minutes for Bale's game to be over, hurting his calf.

Now the Italian manager has problems. Bale is the easier player to replace, as odd as that sounds, given he is the world's most expensive player.

In theory, he can just be replaced by Isco, assuming Karim Benzema is fit enough to play in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

That would give Madrid a more natural balance anyway, given Bale's job is to act as both a forward and right midfielder, something he seems incapable of doing successfully.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Isco can play in the middle and James Rodriguez can take up a wider position, or vice versa, and given the technical abilities of both footballers, it shouldn't prove too troublesome.

However, the Modric injury is a huge problem for Madrid.

In terms of sheer numbers, they should be fine to replace him. The man who came on for Modric, Asier Illarramendi, cost Los Blancos a pretty penny, and he has been underused.

Lucas Silva, meanwhile, is another option for the midfield slot alongside Toni Kroos.

Neither, however, come close to matching the talent Modric possesses. He came back into the side after nearly four months out and fitted in perfectly.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Madrid dominated Barcelona for large periods of the recent Clasico because of Modric's influence, and when he tired, his team tired too.

He is the glue in the Madrid side, which can otherwise look like a selection of expensive parts.

Modric is a wonderful footballer and Real Madrid being deprived of him for the next few weeks would jeopardise both their Champions League bid and also their participation in the title race.

Paul White/Associated Press

They are two points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga and they need to win the rest of their games to keep the pressure up.

That task becomes harder without Bale and harder still, without the dynamic, intelligent and creative Croatian.

Ancelotti will be without his favoured left-back, Marcelo, against Atletico Madrid and now he will be missing two of his favourite forward and midfield players too. 

Diego Simeone will be licking his lips.