article_snippet.sent: Juanmi 71' After just four minutes, Bale's game was over.
article_snippet.sent: The Welshman tenderly touched The Welshman calf and made a pulling motion with The Welshman hands to the bench as The Welshman left the pitch, which might imply internal muscle damage.
article_snippet.sent: Given that Karim Benzema was injured after a brutal Champions League encounter with City rivals Atletico Madrid in midweek, Bale's injury took the famous "BBC" strikeforce just down to C.
article_snippet.sent: Isco came in for Karim Benzema, with the Frenchman's injury solving a problem that was brewing at Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti having to choose between the former Malaga man, and James Rodriguez.
article_snippet.sent: The latter was chosen over the former to face Atletico, leading to stories of angst on Isco's part, but the issue was resolved by Karim Benzema's timely absence.
article_snippet.sent: Karim Benzema, meanwhile, was taken out by a Recio challenge in the second half.
article_snippet.sent: It wasn't too fierce a tackle, but the Croatian took a strong knock to Karim Benzema knee and is now a doubt for Wednesday's second leg against Atletico.
article_snippet.sent: Bale went down injured after less than five minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu .
article_snippet.sent: The Welsh forward was forced to go off to be replaced in the early stages of proceedings .