Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez are currently both out injured and left the Bernabeu with several minutes to go during their 0-0 draw against Real Betis in La Liga over the weekend.

It's slowly becoming the league that no team wants to win. With one point now separating first and fifth, Barca and Real Madrid are starting to nervously look over their shoulder ahead of this weekend's games.

The forward has faced significant criticism at Real Madrid for his priorities, and there is a belief that Gareth Bale views some of his other habits as more important than playing for his club.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Gareth Bale is fast becoming a hero in Spain… to everyone who doesn't care about Real Madrid with his latest dig at the club coming on Tuesday night.

Harry Redknapp believes a sure-fire way of Jose Mourinho getting the backing of Tottenham fans would be to sign Gareth Bale. Bale moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid six years ago.

Gareth Bale appeared to mock his club team Real Madrid during Wales' 2-0 victory over Hungary on Tuesday evening by holding a flag that read: 'Wales. Golf. Madrid...in that order'.

La Liga returns this weekend with the title race tighter than ever with the top five separated by just two points. Real Madrid welcome Real Sociedad while Barcelona take on Leganes.

Zinedine Zidane has backed Gareth Bale to return to form with Real Madrid and insisted he is not bothered by the Welshman's 'Wales. Golf. Madrid' jibe.

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week. 

PETE JENSON: Gareth Bale was whistled by Real Madrid supporters in his first game back since his Wales flag celebration and Zinedine Zidane admitted the situation was unsustainable.

Bale had been criticised in Spain after being pictured celebrating Wales' Euro 2020 qualification victory over Hungary in midweek with a flag which read 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order'.

The much-maligned 30-year-old was resoundingly jeered by home fans after being introduced as a second half substitute in the club's 3-1 victory against Real Sociedad.

PETE JESON IN SPAIN: Real Madrid may have thrown away two points against PSG but Zinedine Zidane was asked how he could explain the remarkable improvement in his team.

Jose Mourinho was named Spurs boss a fortnight ago and signed a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season, following the abrupt exit of Mauricio Pochettino.

Gareth Bale has added to Real Madrid's increasing injury list ahead of El Clasico against Barcelona with a minor thigh problem.

Gareth Bale's agent has admitted the Real Madrid winger 'is not ecstatic' with life at the club but insists he's never asked to leave after the 30-year-old came close to leaving in the summer.

Zinedine Zidane says he will not stop Wales star Gareth Bale from playing golf in his spare time. Bale admits playing golf is his passion and that his team-mates have nicknamed him 'The Golfer'.

Marca report that Real Madrid need to generate 200m euros to balance the books and avoid sanctions from UEFA's Financial Fair Play rulings after they spent 350m euros in the summer.

The Bernabeu outfit were one of the most active clubs in the summer transfer window, spending big to appease returning manager Zinedine Zidane ahead of the new season.

Real Madrid have long been interested in signing Manchester United's Paul Pogba. It is reported that Los Blancos could offer both Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in any deal.

PETE JENSON: The incredible efficiency of Real Madrid's Rodrygo Goes helped Real Madrid sign off their Champions League group campaign with a 3-1 win over Club Brugges.

Gareth Bale was benched by Zinedine Zidane again for Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Valencia. The Welsh winger though found a way to keep himself amused while he sat on the substitutes bench.

PETE JENSON AT THE NOU CAMP: The last there was a 0-0 between Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga someone had launched a pig's head onto the pitch at Luis Figo back in 2002.

Bale's commitment to Madrid was criticised in the Spanish press after posing with a 'Wales, golf, Madrid, in that order' banner after helping his country reach Euro 2020.

The Welshman has come under fire in Spain for a lack of commitment towards the culture, with reports that he had not made an effort to learn the language and does not bond with the team.

Real Madrid beat Valencia in the new look Spanish Super Cup semi-final and will now play either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid for the crown.

Ryan Sessegnon told of how Jose Mourinho had advised him to show more aggression when out of possession, and when he is on the ball to be more ambitious and take players on.

Gareth Bale has no intention of departing Real Madrid in the near future and even plans on having another full season in LaLiga, according to his agent.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has left winger Gareth Bale out of the 19-man squad that will face Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday, despite the Welshman training all week injury free.

The duo were left out of the squad to face Sevilla last weekend with some reports claiming Bale had been dropped, despite the winger having trained as normal all week.

Gareth Bale's agent has described the prospect of the Welshman leaving Real Madrid on loan this month as 'ridiculous' and insisted he will see out his Bernabeu contract.

Brahim Diaz - the former Manchester City forward who refuses to go out on loan - sent Real Madrid into the last-16 of the Spanish Cup with a brace after they suffered a scare.

Real Madrid used to be the club that most frequently broke the transfer record now they are the club who spend the most on what they believe will be the next big thing.

Zinedine Zidane has spoken of his hopes of winning the Copa del Rey after Real Madrid eased into the last 16 with a 3-1 victory at Unionistas de Salamanca.

Gareth Bale impressed on his return to Real Madrid's starting XI as they beat Unionistas de Salamanca 3-1 in the Copa del Rey but was forced off with an ankle injury in the 53rd minute of the game.

We've got a full weekend of LaLiga action ahead, with the league still wide open at both ends of the table. Barcelona and Real Madrid can hardly be separated at this stage of the season.  

With £85.3m from the sale of Gareth Bale burning a big hole in their pockets, Tottenham embarked on a crazy spending spree in the summer of 2013. But what became of their seven signings?

Tottenham and Real Madrid will enter talks on Wednesday over a sensational return for Gareth Bale - but the Wales star would have to agree to a massive pay cut.

Sportsmail understands Spurs have explored the possibility of trying to lure their former player back to north London but the finances attached to the deal mean it is unlikely this month.

Tottenham have conceded defeat in their ambitious ploy to bring Gareth Bale back to the club. Sportsmail revealed on Thursday how Spurs had held talks with Real Madrid.

OLIVER HOLT: Andy Holt, the owner of Accrington Stanley has accused big clubs of being like a boa constrictor, squeezing the life out of the teams in the lower leagues of English football.

Gareth Bale made a hasty exit while his team-mates were still playing in their 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad on Thursday night. Zinedine Zidane's side crashed out of the Copa del Rey at the Bernebeu.

Gareth Bale is determined to see out the final two years of his Real Madrid contract, according to the player's agent Jonathan Barnett.

Gareth Bale's agent has defended his Welsh charge after Real Madrid fans were angered by the winger leaving the Bernabeu with 10 minutes to go during their 4-3 defeat to Real Sociedad. 

Gareth Bale is back in the Real Madrid squad for a La Liga game for the first time in over a month after being included for Sunday's match at Osasuna.

Bale, who has made 15 appearances in all competitions for Madrid this season, has been recalled this weekend and Zidane dismissed ongoing speculation about the pair's relationship.

Zinedine Zidane says that Real Madrid will count on Gareth Bale during the final months of the season after the Welsh forward started in the 4-1 win at Osasuna on Sunday.

PETE JENSON AT EL SADAR STADIUM: Zinedine Zidane's side knew this was a potential slip-up but turned an awkward away fixture against battling Osasuna into a routine win.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale was sent home from training with gastroenteritis after concerns that the bug could spread. Luka Jovic has also been told to stay away before Saturday's game at Levante.

Gareth Bale has been omitted from Real Madrid's squad to face Levante on Saturday, with the forward suffering with gastroenteritis. Bale was sent home from training on Wednesday.