The Welsh winger and Spanish defender have been omitted through injury from Carlo Ancelotti’s 20-man squad he is taking to Anfield for Wednesday’s European game

Real Madrid have left out injury-hit pair Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos from their squad to face Liverpool on Wednesday.

Bale was benched against Levante on Saturday and the European champions confirmed he was struggling with a muscular injury on Monday.

The Welshman’s absence from their midweek Champions League clash with Liverpool is arguably not as significant as if he fails to recover full fitness for this coming Saturday’s Clasico at home to Barcelona, when Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping his regular starter will be back in top shape.

Ramos, meanwhile, missed Spain’s internationals due to a muscular injury and also played no part in the Blancos’ 5-0 victory at the weekend. As a result, he is also a question mark to start at the Santiago Bernabeu against Lionel Messi and Co. on October 25.

Bale’s void is expected to be filled by Isco, while Nacho filled in for Ramos last time out although Raphael Varane’s return to the selection suggests he might be favoured if fully fit.

Karim Benzema is back in the 20-man squad having been rested with a foot injury against Levante and is expected to step back into the XI at the expense of on-loan forward Javier Hernandez.

Real Madrid squad in full: Casillas, Navas, Pacheco; Varane, Pepe, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho; Khedira, Kroos, James, Modric, Isco, Illarra, Medran, M. Llorente; Ronaldo, Benzema, Hernandez.