Gareth Bale Injury: Real Madrid Star out vs. Espanyol with Hip Issue

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale will be forced to sit out of the LaLiga clash with Espanyol on Sunday as he looks to recover from a niggling hip injury.

The Welshman has started the 2016/17 LaLiga campaign in scintillating fashion and appears on top of his game, but manager Zinedine Zidane isn't willing to risk inflicting further damage to one of his star men.

The Real boss told reporters that he wants Bale at full fitness for Wednesday night's tricky-looking clash with Villarreal, so he won't be sending him out at Espanyol, per Gill Clark of Goal:

"

Bale had a strong knock on his hip and we will not take any chances. We have important players who can replace the ones injured.

I want to have Gareth at 100% for very difficult game on Wednesday [against Villarreal]. Tomorrow he might get a bang in the same spot & be out for 10 days, or more.

"

Paul White/Associated Press

Bale picked up the knock during Real's dramatic 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in midweek, and while the problem isn't as bad as first feared, there's every chance it could get worse if exposed.

Real will also be without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo for their trip to Espanyol, yet like Bale, the Portuguese should return to face Villarreal in midweek.

Zidane will turn to the likes of Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata to get them over the line at Espanyol, and if they do exactly that, they'll equal Barcelona's LaLiga record of 16 straight victories.