MADRID, April 4 -- Cristiano Ronaldo stole the headlines once again for Real Madrid following his outstanding performance and stunning overhead kick which gave his side a 3-0 win away to Juventus on Tuesday night to virtually assure their place in the semifinals of the Champions League for yet another season, but Ronaldo's display also served to highlight the problems of another of his companions: Gareth Bale.

The Welshman, who remains Madrid's record signing, must have been expecting to start in Turin after starring with two goals in his side's 3-0 win over Las Palmas at the weekend, but instead he found himself watching from the dugout for the full 90 minutes as Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio were chosen to replace Karim Benzema and Isco ahead of him.

When asked about the decision, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made light of the issue, saying that Bale was "not at all," far from the role he had been bought for.

"He hasn't played in this game, but he has played in others...there is a derby (against Atletico Madrid) on Sunday and he has to be ready," said Zidane.

However, the Madrid boss is fooling nobody with those words: Sunday's Madrid derby is likely to be the most decaffeinated derby in recent years , with Real Madrid 13 points behind Liga Santander leaders FC Barcelona and focused on winning the Champions League, while Atletico are nine points off the top of the table and looking to get into the last four in the Europa League.

【体坛英语资讯：Commentary: Bale absence highlights future problems for Real Madrid】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Former France coach tipped to direct China

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Lang Lang delights the crowd with moving performance

★ 娱乐资讯：Toni Collette announces shes pregnant

★ 体坛英语资讯：Bielsa comes back to take charge of Chile

★ 体坛英语资讯：Russia march on to quarters, Israel beat Croatia

★ 体坛英语资讯：Hawks set for decider in Boston

★ 体坛资讯：Late starters face uphill task in China

★ 体坛英语资讯：Liu Xiang wins mens 110 meters hurdles gold at Olympic test event

★ 体坛英语资讯：China chalks up breathtaking victory at world table tennis

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Lindsay Lohan to be caught on tape