Gareth Bale alongside James Rodriguez have been left out of the Real Madrid squad for second-leg clash of Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City.
Madrid presented a 24-man England bound squad that will see the quest for qualification to next round but Bale and Rodriguez were ignored. Rather, ineligible player, Sergio Ramos and unfit forward Eden Hazard were named in the list of traveling players.
Madrid sealed a 34th La Liga triumph in June but they trail Manchester City going into their second tie after a 2-1 loss at Bernabeu. To avoid getting knocked in this stage like last year, they must overturn the deficit to book a place in quarter finals.
With the quest at hand, it is believed that Los Blancos will bank on the wings of their experienced men with either Bale or Rodriguez boasting of up to eight years experience in Champions League football.
Bale scored Madrid’s second and third goal after coming in as a substitute to help Madrid beat recently crowned Premier League champions Liverpool in 2018 UCL final. He has also score other crucial goal which helped the club bag a silverware and also in critical times. Unfortunately, he won’t repeat such mark as unfit Eden Hazard has been favoured ahead of him.
Not regular Luka Jovic, who has only started just one Champions League game for Madrid was also included in the list. Bale and James will now stay behind at the Spanish capital alongside Mariano Diaz who has long been dismissed from the clash after contracting coronavirus in July.
