Gareth Bale Reportedly Will Be Handed Chance to Make Case for UCL Start

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale will reportedly be given a last chance to make a case to be in the starting XI for the team's upcoming clash with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu in the last match before their first-leg meeting with the German giants, and according to Santiago Siguero of Marca, the Welshman can still force his way in manager Zinedine Zidane's plans with a strong display in the La Liga fixture.

"Bale didn't play against Malaga, so he's expected to start against Athletic Club on Wednesday evening, at least in accordance with how Zidane usually likes to rotate his players," Siguero said. "This stands as the 28-year-old's final chance to impress and stake a claim for a place in the team which will take on the Bavarian giants on April 25."

The match will likely see the formerly formidable trio of Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo line up together. Ronaldo is the only one of the three enjoying a prosperous campaign.

In recent weeks, Bale and Benzema have become rotation options for Zidane, although speaking ahead of this meeting with Athletic, the coach said there's no issue with the duo, per Sky Sports.

"No I don't think so, this is football," Zidane said. "I don't see either of them looking sad, they are training well. "I spoke to the pair of them the other day, they would both like to score more goals but everyone is working well."

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This season Bale has again been dogged by injuries, and while in the past he would walk back into the XI when fit, he has serious competition for his starting berth from Isco, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez.

Isco, in particular, has come into excellent form lately, as he did last season when Madrid clinched the Champions League and La Liga. 

By contrast, when handed a chance from the start against Juventus recently, Bale was hooked at half-time after a poor display.

Journalist Lucas Navarrete believes that may have been the final straw for the Welshman:

There's no doubt Bale does still have something to offer, as his haul of 13 goals this season illustrates. 

In terms of pace and power, there's nobody more dynamic in the Madrid squad than the 28-year-old. Additionally, Bale is an exceptional crosser and capable of scoring spectacular goals from distance.

Spanish football writer Andrew Gaffney believes Bale gets a raw deal compared to some Real players:

Given how he struggled against Juventus and the recent upturn in form from Isco, Bale will have to produce something extraordinary at this point to put himself in the frame from the start against Bayern.

Going into this game, Madrid are in third place in the La Liga table. They should be far too strong for an Athletic side that have endured a campaign to forget and sit down in 13th position.