Real Madrid: Sergio Ramos and Marcelo ruled out of Shakhtar Donetsk clash due to injury

Real Madrid defenders Sergio Ramos and Marcelo will miss the Champions League trip to Shakhtar Donetsk after sustaining knocks in the Clasico defeat against Barcelona over the weekend. A statement on Real's official website said Marcelo suffered a thigh injury in the 4-0 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Centre-back Ramos is still struggling with a dislocated shoulder he suffered against Shakhtar in the reverse fixture in September and has been excluded from the travelling party to continue his recovery. The Spain international was injected with a painkiller to play against Barca on 21 November.

Madrid-based daily Marca said Ramos could be out of action for up to a month as he waits for his shoulder to fully heal.

Bale happy in Madrid

"Following the tests carried out on Marcelo today... the player has been diagnosed with an injury in his left adductor muscle. His recovery will continue to be assessed," a Real statement released on 23 November said.

The Spanish club have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League and can clinch top spot in Group A with a victory over Shakhtar in Lviv on 25 November. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale has insisted that he is happy at the Bernabeu amid reports linking him with a move back to the Premier League.

"Great things happen in the Premier League. But great things happen here. I'm enjoying life – playing, improving, winning titles," Bale told the Daily Telegraph before playing in Real's defeat against Barcelona.

"My plan when I first started playing football was to try and reach the pinnacle, and Real Madrid is the pinnacle of football teams," he said.

The former Tottenham star added that he had improved as a player since arriving in the Spanish capital in 2013. "I've learned a different style, a more possession-based game. It's definitely made me a better player," he stressed.