MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid's Welsh winger Gareth Bale has suffered a calf injury, the club confirmed on Tuesday, which could rule him out for three weeks.

Bale limped off with what looked like the recurrence of the calf problem which has plagued him over the past two years, after scoring his 11th goal in eight games during Real's 5-1 rout of Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

And tests carried out in Madrid's Sanitas La Moraleja hospital on Tuesday confirmed a muscle injury in the right leg, the club said in a brief medical statement.

Since December 2013 the 26-year-old has had five injuries to the same calf muscle.

Real Madrid added that Bale was "awaiting developments", but the Spanish press have reported he could be out for at least three weeks.

The Welshman is likely to miss the games against Real Betis, Espanyol and Granada but could be fit for the league match with Athletic Bilbao on Feb 13 or against Roma in the Champions League on Feb 17.