Real Madrid: Bale looks to make his return to the squad count
After missing the past four games, the Welshman is keen to take on a decisive role in Zidane's starting eleven and could be handed game-time in Madrid's awkward trip to Osasuna.
After missing the past four games through injury and being overlooked, Gareth Bale returns to the Real Madrid squad for their game against Osasuna.
Bale's appearances
Bale has not worn the white jersey in LaLiga since January in Madrid's 3-0 win over Getafe. In that time, he has missed the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia (8 and 12 January) and only played 52 minutes in Los Blancos' Copa del Rey tie against Unionistas.
After fully recovering from injury, the Welshman is keen to make his return count and play a leading role in Zidane's side as we move into the sharp end of the season - he will be looking to rekindle to the kind of form that saw him set up Benzema for Madrid's first goal of the campaign and score two against Villarreal to avoid Madrid's first defeat. Since then his appearances have been stop-start, for Madrid at least.
The Madrid derby, Spurs, Manchester City
Bale has been training normally for over a week now and his absence in the Madrid derby against Atlético and Madrid's cup defeat to Real Sociedad in mid-week caught the eye. Surrounding these games was also talk of a move back to his former club Tottenham in the winter transfer market. Now the Madrid forward has another chance to get back up and running, in a tough tie away at Osasuna, with the Champions League due to resume at the end of February and a clash against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.