Gareth Bale ready to return to action ahead of a decisive week for Real Madrid

Real Madrid world record signing Gareth Bale is ready to return to action to help Carlo Ancelotti's side in their bid to win La Liga and the Champions League.

The former Tottenham hero sustained a calf injury during the 3-1 victory over Malaga on 20 April and has since missed the last two La Liga wins over Celta de Vigo and Almeria, as well the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

But the Wales international returned to training on 30 April and is expected to be included in Ancelotti's squad for the crucial La Liga game against Sevilla on 2 May.

Speaking after the game against Almeria, Ancelotti predicted Bale's return and suggested the former Tottenham star even could be in his starting line-up to face the major test against fourth place Sevilla.

"This is the most important part of the season, we won't rotate, the best team will play at Sevilla and we'll try and win. Bale could train with the team tomorrow [30 April]," the boss said.

Bale has been under scrutiny this season at the Santiago Bernabeu but his return is a major boost for Ancelotti, who, with Karim Benzema and Luka Modric also on the sidelines, has been forced to reorganise his line-up in recent games with the presence of Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez.

Having already being knocked out of the Copa del Rey, Los Blancos face a decisive week in their attempt to beat Barcelona to the La Liga title and retain the Champions League trophy.

Real Madrid are currently two points behind the Catalans in the La Liga table and with just four games remaining, the next two tough games against Sevilla and Valencia, who are fourth and fifth respectively, are expected to be crucial.

Furthermore, between those games, Ancelotti's side will face Juventus on 5 and 12 May, with the prize for the victor being a place in the Champions League final.

Having scored in both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League finals last season, Bale's return to action comes just in time to prove the Spanish doubters wrong.