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Tuesday Ticker: Bale ruled out for Champions League duel, Di Canio refutes dust-up claims, and more

Gareth Bale Real Madrid (Getty Images)

By KEVIN KOCZWARA

Life at Real Madrid isn’t going to plan so far this season, and it looks like things will still be on hold as Gareth Bale won’t feature in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen because of an injury.

Bale reportedly is not in manager Carlo Ancelotti’s game day squad for Wednesday’s match because of a knock to his left thigh . Bale pulled out of the Real Madrid starting lineup 10 days ago after sustaining the injury during warm-ups for Madrid’s game against Getafe.

Madrid currently lead Group B with three points and a goal differential of plus-five after beating Galatasaray 6-1 in their opening game.

Here are more stories from around the soccer world:

DI CANIO CLAIMS THERE WAS NO DUST-UP

Paolo Di Canio was dismissed as manager of Sunderland after the Black Cats’ 3-0 loss to West Bromwich last month. The Italian was only in charge of the club for 13 games before being sacked, and there have been reports that a training ground issue and senior players’ complaints were the reason for his removal.

The Italian denied those claims in a statement he released Tuesday.

“There has been a lot written in the media in recent days, much of it wholly untrue. There was no training ground bust up as some are reporting and many of the players have since sent me messages thanking me for my time as their manager and helping them to improve as footballers,” Di Cano said.

“We could see that results had not gone as well as any of us had hoped, but I felt as a team we could turn things around,” the Italian continued. “I remain confident in my ability and I want to manage again in England as soon as I can. When things like this happen it is important to take something positive from it. I have learnt a lot from my brief time at Sunderland and I am sure that this will only make me a better manager in my next job. Even though my time at the club ended prematurely, I would like to thank Sunderland for giving me my first opportunity to be a Premier League manager.”

BENGTSON, BERNARDEZ CALLED-UP FOR HONDURAS QUALIFERS

Despite seeing very little action for the New England Revolution, forward Jerry Bengtson has been called-up to the Honduras National Team for their upcoming qualifiers against Costa Rica and Jamaica.

Honduras is currently third in the six-team CONCACAF group with a 3-3-2 record. They will host Costa Rica in San Pedro Sula on Friday, Oct. 11 before traveling to Kingston four days later.

The Honduras roster alsp contains five other Major League Soccer players, including Marvin Chavez and Boniek Garcia.

Here’s the full roster:

GOALKEEPERS: Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia), Kevin Hernandez (Real Spain)

DEFENDERS: Maynor Figueroa (Hull City), Osman Chavez (Wilsa Krakow), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic Glasgow), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan Athletic), Juan Pablo Montes (Motagua), Brayan Beckeles (Olimpia), Jhonny Leveron (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and Arnold Peralta (Rangers).

MIDFIELDERS: Jorge Claros (Motagua), Marvin Chavez (San Jose Earthquakes), Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Roger Espinoza (Wigan Athletic), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City), Edgard Alvarez (Platense), Andy Najar (Anderlecht).

FORWARDS: Anthony Lozano (Olimpia), Rony Martínez (Real Sociedad), Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution) Carlo Costly (Guizhou Zhicheng) and Jerry Palacios (Liga Deportiva Alajuelense).

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How do you see Madrid faring without Bale? Believe Di Canio saying there was no dust-up with players? Think Honduras will qualify for the 2014 World Cup?

Share your thoughts below.

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