MADRID - Gareth Bale has left Real Madrid's match against Malaga with an apparent injury to his left leg four days before its Champions League second-leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid.

Bale sat on the Santiago Bernabeu turf while rubbing his left calf. Team doctors signalled to coach Carlo Ancelotti that he needed to come off in only the fourth minute of the Spanish league match.

Madrid will be missing suspended defender Marcelo on Wednesday, when it hosts Atletico with their tie poised after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.

Bale was replaced by Javier Hernandez as Madrid tries to keep pace with league leader Barcelona, which moved five points clear with a 2-0 win over Valencia earlier Saturday.