Real Madrid has confirmed that Gareth Bale will undergo ankle surgery next week, causing him to miss the first El Clasico of the season and ruling him out for three to four months.
The Welshman suffered the injury while playing for Real against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in a 2-1 win to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.
Bale's injury will see him miss the clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp on December 3.
A statement from Real Madrid said: "After the tests made today to our player Gareth Bale in the University Hospital Sanitas in La Moraleja, we have diagnosed a traumatic dislocation of the peroneal tendons of his right ankle."
Bale has been a consistent member of Zinedine Zidane's team this season, helping propel Real to the top of La Liga.
His absence will start on Saturday, when Real host Sporting Gijon.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
