Real Madrid drew a blank in the Spanish Cup without Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo as they were held to an embarrassing goal-less draw by third division side Olympic Xàtiva.

Madrid’s misery was added to by Angel Di Maria who appeared to react badly to being hauled off on the hour. The apparent display of petulance followed stories linking him with a move away from the club in January and will alert Premier League suitors.

Bale stayed in Madrid because of a bout of flu and without the man who has scored four goals in his last two games Madrid flopped with replacement Di Maria one of those guilty of under-performing against the lower-league rivals.

The Argentine winger was substituted on 58 minutes and could be seen aiming comments at Carlo Ancelotti on the bench as he left the pitch. The Italian coach played down the incident suggesting his frustration was at the state of the plastic pitch.

‘He strained a calf and asked to be changed’ He said. The incident followed stories suggesting the Argentine is unhappy at losing his place in the team in a World Cup year to Real’s record signing Bale and will demand a 30m switch to Monaco in the new year if he does not receive assurances that he is going to play more.

Ancelotti added: ‘Di Maria is fine. He will be staying here.’

Real laboured on Olympic Xàtiva’s plastic pitch in the first leg of the last-16 cup game. Bale and Ronaldo were sorely missed and Real will now need to bring back the two star strikers for the second leg in ten days.

—Daily Mail