Gareth Bale Reportedly Set to Miss Athletic Bilbao Clash with Fresh Calf Injury

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has suffered another injury setback and will miss the team's meeting with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday due to a calf problem. 

That's according to Marca (h/t Football Espana), where it's been reported the Wales international felt an issue in his calf when he made his comeback for the team on Tuesday in the 2-2 draw with Fuenlabrada in the Copa del Rey.

Bale "didn't finish the match against Fuenlabrada with good feelings in his calf" and as a result he missed training the following day ahead of the trip to the San Mames Stadium. While there will be disappointment that the 28-year-old will not be involved, the problem is said to be minor.

Having been absent from the first-team setup since the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on September 26, Bale returned in midweek and immediately impressed.

With Madrid finding themselves a goal down at home to the third-tier outfit, he set up a crucial equaliser for Borja Mayoral with a magnificent cross with the outside of his foot. As we can see courtesy of OptaJose, it didn't take him long to help Los Blancos:

Dermot Corrigan commented on the rescue act performed by Bale at the Santiago Bernabeu, as the forward helped settle the side on a nervy evening:

In a campaign where Real haven't been at their best from an attacking perspective, it was a reminder of what Bale can bring to the team.

There aren't many players as devastating as him in world football when he's at his best. Bale can burst open a match with a surging run, a wicked cross or a stunning shot from distance. It's an edge Madrid have lacked for long parts of the season.

Their No. 11 has suffered an array of injury issues since arriving at the club. 

In the past there has been a sense of Madrid hurrying Bale back from his layoffs a little too quickly, so from one perspective, keeping him out of contention for what will be a testing game on Saturday may be the sensible move. Especially if doubts linger over his fitness.

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Manager Zinedine Zidane will be desperate to get Bale involved in the first-team setup soon, though, as Madrid's campaign is approaching a crucial point.

After the meeting with Athletic, the team faces Dortmund in the Champions League before a testing run of La Liga fixtures. They host Sevilla on December 9, and a fortnight later it's the Clasico against Barcelona at the Bernabeu.