MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will miss Real Madrid's Spanish league match at Espanyol on Sunday.

Coach Zinedine Zidane says Ronaldo has a sore throat, while Bale is out because the Wales winger received "a hard knock on his thigh."

That will leave Madrid's attack in the hands of Karim Benzema, Alvaro Morata and Lucas Vazquez.

Ronaldo missed the first three matches of Madrid's season with a knee injury that saw him leave the European Championship final in July. Back in action for Madrid, Ronaldo scored twice in two matches, including a late goal to help beat Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Madrid is aiming for a fourth win in as many rounds. Espanyol has yet to win this season in three matches.