Gareth Bale is a doubt for Real Madrid's crucial ties against Liverpool and Barcelona

Gareth Bale watches from the substitute bench the La Liga match between Levante UD and Real Madrid at Ciutat de Valencia.

Gareth Bale is scheduled to miss Real Madrid’s Champions League encounter with Liverpool this week, and to make matters worse he is highly doubtful for the weekend El Clasico.

The Welshman picked up a gluteal muscle injury in the Euro 2016 qualifier match against Cyprus last week and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelloti had to leave him on the bench during their 5-0 win over Levante over the weekend.

The story was further confirmed by SkySports and UK football expert Guillem Balague.

In a medical report released by the club on their website, it was revealed,“After tests carried out on Gareth Bale by the Real Madrid Sanitas medical services, he has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the right Piriformis muscle. His progress will be monitored.”

Madrid have bench strength

As per Real Madrid’s official website, Ancelotti rested Bale in the La Liga in the weekend as a precaution to avoid a major injury and also confessed that Bale’s injury would be checked ahead of their trip to Anfield.

The 25-year-old winger was brought to Bernabeu on a world-record fee in 2013-14. The former Tottenham player scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists in his first season at the club and also helped Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey. The injury to Bale will not cause many problems to Madrid as they all ready have a star-studded bench with new additions James Rodriguez and Javier Hernández also finding their mark.

As reported in @SkySports, Gareth Bale injured: will miss at least the next two games, Liverpool and FC Barcelona. Bale se pierde el Clásico

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) October 20, 2014