Jese likely to get a chance v Villarreal as Real Madrid deal with Gareth Bale doubt

Real Madrid can maintain their La Liga title momentum on Sunday with a visit from Villarreal, though it appears they will need to earn the three points without Gareth Bale.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is an injury doubt for the club's next La Liga game after suffering a reckless challenge in their previous league contest. Warren Little / Getty Images

European champions Real Madrid will aim to maintain their recent winning form when they host high-flying Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Barcelona's shock 1-0 defeat to Malaga last weekend allowed Madrid to open a four-point advantage after the put in one of their best La Liga performances in weeks in a 2-0 win over Elche.

World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo scored his side’s second at the Martinez Valero to end a three-game La Liga goal drought and open up a three-goal lead over Lionel Messi, 29-26, in their dual for the Pichichi top scorer award.

However, Madrid continue to be dogged by injury problems. Gareth Bale is in doubt for the visit of Villarreal due to an ankle injury he suffered as a result of a challenge from Aaron Niguez last weekend.

The Welshman’s absence could allow Jese a rare start. Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos and Sami Khedira all still sidelined by long-term injuries.

Real Madrid’s task is likely to be made easier, though, as Villarreal also will not be at full strength after defeating Red Bull Salzburg to progress to the last 16 of the Europa League just four days before their trip to the Bernabeu.

Villareal coach Marcelino said, after their 3-1 victory in Austria on Thursday, that the “same players would definitely not play” in order to give many of his regulars a rest.

Moreover, in-form Russian winger Denis Cheryshev will be miss out for the visitors as he is on-loan from Madrid.

Barcelona have the chance to reduce the gap at the top to a point for 24 hours, at least, when they travel to Granada on Saturday.

Barca lost at Nuevo Los Carmenes 1-0 last season, but will travel with confidence having produced one of their best displays of the season in beating Manchester City 2-1 away in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Luis Suarez scored both goals to register his first double since joining from Liverpool for a club-record fee in July. However, coach Luis Enrique said that penalty duties will not be handed to the Uruguayan despite Messi missing five of his past 10 spot-kicks for club and country.

Central defender Gerard Pique is the only first-team regular unavailable to Enrique, through suspension, but he is expected to once again make various changes as he continues to rotate his ample squad in league games.

Spain’s third remaining Champions League participants, Atletico Madrid, didn’t fare so well in midweek as last season’s runners-up were beaten 1-0 away by Bayer Leverkusen.

Diego Simeone’s men face a crucial clash in ensuring their place back in European football’s premier competition next season when they travel to Sevilla on Sunday.

Sevilla haven’t been beaten at the Sanchez Pizjuan in any competition since March last year and need to win to maintain any realistic hope of catching the Spanish champions. They lie eight points adrift of Atletico.

Fourth-placed Valencia, meanwhile, can move level on points with Atletico when they host David Moyes’s Real Sociedad in Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE