Gareth Bale is set to return to action for Real Madrid, strong favourites at 1.06, in their La Liga tie against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday night.

The Welsh winger has been sidelined for the past five games with a muscle injury, but is set to start in Saturday night’s game where Los Blancos will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table.

After Bale came off the bench in Real’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League in midweek, manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “He did well and was fine.

“I thought it was too soon for him to start. Saturday he will play the game.”

Real are currently on a winning run which stretches to 12 matches in succession, just three below the club record achieved in 1960-61 and 2011-12.

Spaniard Isco has been in impressive form in Bale’s absence, which has raised questions over whether the former Tottenham winger would regain his place.

However, Bale’s impressive substitute appearance in the Champions League seems to have tipped the balance in the 24-year-old’s favour.

Rayo Vallecano have lost three of their last four matches and have not beaten Real since 1997, and are available at 30.00 to pick up all three points with the draw at 13.00.

On Thursday, Wales manager Chris Coleman named Bale in the squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Belgium on November 16. The winger has scored 14 goals in 47 appearances for his country, but boasts a better goal record for Real, where he has managed to find the net 19 times in 34 appearances.