By Tim Stannard

1) Bale returns in Bernabeu Copa clash

Good news and bad news on Tuesday for a significant section of the more mean-spirited Real Madrid fan base.

The good news is that Gareth Bale is set to see some action in the day’s Copa del Rey clash against lowly city rivals, Fuenlabrada. Let’s face it, the team’s somewhat misfiring forward line needs the Welshman. 

The bad news is quotes percolating from the footballer’s agent on Monday that the fragile forward fully intents to see out his career at the Santiago Bernabeu, playing one game in 15 and treating the club like a Victorian spa recovery center. Actually, it’s Sports Burst being a little mean-spirited there. 

"He wants to play the rest of his life at Real Madrid,” claimed Bale’s representative, Jonathan Barnett. 

Bale is part of a squad full of youthful promise that also includes the returning Keylor Navas, which will produce sighs of relief for the aforementioned Madrid supporters. Madrid are 2-0 ahead in the Copa tie and you can catch all the action live on beIN SPORTS from 3:25PM ET / 12:25AN PT.

Tune into the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT to join Kevin Egan and Carlos Ruiz and they launch a special edition of Bale-watch. With much slow-motion running. Lest he pull another hamstring. 

2) Wenger says Ozil and Sanchez going nowhere 

Well, it looks like everyone is trying to poop the transfer tracker party on Tuesday. 

Arsene Wenger has said that neither Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will be leaving the Emirates in the winter transfer window, despite both footballers being completely out of contract and free next summer. Ozil had been linked with a cheeky move to Barcelona in January with Sanchez hopping over the English Channel to join the PSG party.

The only way the pair could go was if something “unbelievable” happened, claimed Arsenal’s French boss. So, you’re saying there’s a chance? 

Wenger was speaking ahead of Arsenal’s home clash with Huddersfield Town on Wednesday, just one of a full raft of midweek Premier League games. Tuesday sees the big battle of the Portuguese coaches with the in-demand Marcos Silva at the helm of Watford, and not as in-demand as before Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Tune into the XTRA from 7PM ET / 4PM PT for the best goals and analysis of the action in England. 

3) Milan unveil Gattuso but warn of no winter spending

Milan had an angry bearded man at training on Tuesday, as it was the first day on the job as the club’s new head coach for Gennaro Gattuso as he looks to sail the struggling Serie A side out of choppy waters and into the Champions League places. 

It was a busy morning on the whole for the former ankle-chopping, short-tempered midfielder with a press conference lined up with the club’s CEO Marco Fassone, who lead the proceedings by making three points. The decision to sack Vincenzo Montella was a tough one, the Sporting Director who blew $250 million is safe and Gattuso is neither “a plug hole” nor “an emergency parachute”. However, his future will be reassessed at the end of the season. Fassone also noted that there are no plans to go into the winter transfer market.

Milan are currently in seventh in Serie A, 11 points off the Champions League places. Gattuso’s first challenge will be against Benevento, the team that has contrived to lose all 14 Serie A matches this season. 

4) LeBron looks to Heat up for the Cavs 

Monday night football saw the Baltimore Ravens keep up the campaign for a wild card play-off spot with a win against the visiting Houston Texans. Tuesday morning, post day football sees President Trump once again raging against the NFL kneeling machine. 

The Cavaliers and LeBron James had a good night in the NBA with a 113-91 win over Philadelphia while the Golden State Warriors lost at the Sacramento Kings. The Cavs play again on Tuesday, facing the mighty Miami Heat. 

WHAT IS SPORTS BURST?

The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.