The injury list in the La Liga keeps growing as the season progresses and this time Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale are the unfortunate victims...
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will have tests on Monday on a possible muscle injury sustained in Sunday's 6-0 La Liga victory at home to Athletic Bilbao, coach Luis Enrique said.
Messi, who scored Barca's opening goal from the penalty spot, was replaced by Arda Turan at halftime at the Nou Camp and Luis Enrique told a news conference he had taken the decision as a precaution.
The Argentina forward and FIFA Ballon d'Or holder missed two months late last year with a knee injury but has looked close to his best in recent weeks.
"Tomorrow tests will be conducted, he has some mild muscle fatigue," Luis Enrique told a news conference.
"There was no sense in taking risks," added the former Barca and Spain midfielder. "I don't like to risk anyone, least of all Messi."
Barca's Spain fullback Jordi Alba also had to come off in the second half after sustaining what looked like a hamstring strain when lunging for the ball.
Second-placed Barca, who are two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with a game in hand, play at Bilbao in the first leg of their King's Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.
Barca beat Bilbao 3-1 in last year's final and the return is at the Nou Camp a week later.
Bale sustains suspected calf injury, Benzema hurt
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale had to come off in Sunday's game at home to Sporting Gijon with what looked like another calf problem and France forward Karim Benzema suffered a foot injury and was also substituted.
Bale, who scored with a seventh-minute header to put Real 1-0 up in the La Liga clash at the Bernabeu, limped out shortly before halftime with his side leading 5-0.
Bale has already been sidelined twice this season with calf problems, missing about two weeks each time.
The 26-year-old Wales forward has been in good form in recent weeks and his goal against Gijon was his 13th in the league this season.
Benzema, who netted a first-half double, hobbled off with about 25 minutes left after hurting his foot in a collision with team mate James Rodriguez.
"What Karim has is a knock," coach Zinedine Zidane told a news conference after his side wrapped up a 5-1 victory, with Cristiano Ronaldo also scoring twice.
"Bale's (injury) is more complicated," added the former France and Real great, who was taking charge of his second game after replacing the sacked Rafa Benitez.
"Let's wait for the scan," he added.
"We hope it's nothing serious."
Ronaldo and Benzema are La Liga's leading marksmen this season with 16 goals apiece, one more than Barcelona pair Neymar and Luis Suarez.