- Title: SOCCER-SPAIN/REAL Bale absence, suspensions force Real reshuffle for Eibar game
- Date: 10th April 2015
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (APRIL 10, 2015) (REUTERS) REAL MADRID PLAYERS TRAINING AT VALDEBEBAS TRAINING PITCH REAL MADRID COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, WATCHING TRAINING SESSION FORWARD, CRISTIANO RONALDO (RIGHT), AND DEFENDER, PEPE, STRETCHING PLAYERS TRAINING RONALDO AT TRAINING GOALKEEPER, IKER CASILLAS, TRAINING PLAYERS AT SESSION PEPE AND BENZEMA TRAINING LEFT BACK, MARCELO, TRAINING AS COACH WATCHES DEFENDER SERGIO RAMOS, MIDFIELDER FRANCISCO ALARCON "ISCO" AND STRIKER JAVIER "CHICHARITO" HERNANDEZ TRAINING BENZEMA TRAINING CASILLAS TRAINING MIDFIELDER LUKA MODRIC AND RONALDO TRAINING DEFENDER RAPHAEL VARANE AND MODRIC TRAINING RAMOS TRAINING PLAYERS AT SESSION ANCELOTTI ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "Bale is not available for tomorrow. He underwent some tests today, he underwent a scan today. He suffered from a muscle fatigue and we are going to rest him so he can be ready for Tuesday." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "We appealed (Ronaldo's yellow card) because we need Cristiano (Ronaldo) for tomorrow's match. It is an important match. We respect Eibar but we can't fail." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "Pepe has recovered very well. He is available to play tomorrow and to play on Tuesday. But let's not mix the choices for tomorrow with the squad for Tuesday." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS ANCELOTTI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 25th April 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA85BAI63TBXTLF8UN1CQM5FRXF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale will be rested for Saturday's (April 11) La Liga game at home to Eibar, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday (April 10), meaning the Welshman joins suspended midfielders Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez on the sidelines.
Ancelotti said he had not made a final decision on who would come into his starting lineup for the game at the Bernabeu, when second-placed Real will look to close the gap on leaders Barcelona, who play at Sevilla later on Saturday, to one point.
Asier Illarramendi and Isco will likely play alongside Luka Modric in midfield, with Jese joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema up front.
Bale underwent a scan earlier in the morning and Ancelotti said he will rest him so that he can be avaiable for Tuesday's (April 14) Champions League match against local rivals Atletico Madrid.
"Bale is not available for tomorrow. He underwent some tests today, he underwent a scan today. He suffered from a muscle fatigue and we are going to rest him so he can be ready for Tuesday," Ancelotti told a news conference.
Real at least have Cristiano Ronaldo available after the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) earlier on Friday said they had rescinded a yellow card the Portugal forward was shown in Wednesday's 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano that would have carried a one-match suspension.
"We appealed (Ronaldo's yellow card) because we need Cristiano (Ronaldo) for tomorrow's match. It is an important match. We respect Eibar but we can't fail," he said.
Ronaldo is the La Liga top scorer this season with 37 goals, four ahead of Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi.
Ancelotti said Ronaldo's Portugal team mate Pepe, a centre back, would be available both for Saturday and Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg at Atletico Madrid after a brief injury layoff.
"Pepe has recovered very well. He is available to play tomorrow and to play on Tuesday. But let's not mix the choices for tomorrow with the squad for Tuesday," the Italian said.
Germany midfielder Sami Khedira and Portugal left back Fabio Coentrao had back and knee problems respectively and would not be in the squad for the Eibar game, he added.
The modest Basque club are playing in Spain's top flight for the first time this season but a recent poor run has left them in 14th with eight games left and in danger of dropping straight back down to the second division. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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