Gareth Bale ruled out of Wales’ friendly with Spain with groin problem while Ryan Giggs reckons he is ’50-50′ for visit to Ireland

GARETH BALE has been ruled out of Wales' friendly with Spain after a groin injury.

Manager Ryan Giggs has ruled him "50-50" for their Nations League game against Ireland in Dublin.

The Real Madrid star and poster boy of the Dragons' bid to fill the Principality Stadium for Thursday night's game will come as a blow to match organisers.

His club were concerned that Bale was going to play for his country just days after asking to be substituted during their defeat at Alaves.

The FAW have ambitiously moved the game from 33,000 Cardiff City Stadium to the 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium just up the road, in a bid to cash in on Welsh football's popularity.

But their star player's injury could harm last-minute ticket sales, despite the fact that Spain's attractive passing style will be on show.

Bale was a late sub as Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 in the Champions League final in the rugby stadium in 2017.

And he was in stellar form was Wales beat Ireland 4-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium in September, before they went on to lose 2-0 in Denmark.

The Euro 2016 semi-finalists travel to Dublin on Tuesday, where Bale has been rated as 50-50 to take part.

The winger infamously missed Wales' crucial World Cup qualifier against the Irish in Cardiff a year ago, as they lost and missed out on qualification for Russia.

Real Madrid are two points behind La Liga leaders Sevilla and one behind Barcelona, with the two sides set to play each other on October 28.