Gareth Bale has played down the significance of his duel with Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Wales' Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal.

Their relationship has been the subject of intense media scrutiny, with both insisting there is no rift.

They meet in Lyon on Wednesday, Wales' first semi-final at a major tournament.

"It's not about two players, it is about two nations in a semi-final, 11 men against 11 men," said Wales' Bale.

"Everybody knows that really."

Bale became the world's most expensive footballer when he joined Real from Tottenham for £85m in 2013, surpassing the £80m the Spanish club paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009.

The two players have formed a potent attacking three with French striker Karim Benzema, helping Real to win two Champions League titles in the past three seasons.

However, the relationship between Bale and Ronaldo has not always been harmonious.

The Portugal captain was pictured gesticulating angrily when Bale did not pass to him during a game in 2015, prompting speculation of discord between the pair.

Both have dismissed such talk, while former Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said in a recent BBC Wales documentary about Bale that the two players are "really close".

"Of course we get on very well at Madrid, we enjoy playing with each other," said Bale.

"He's a fantastic player, everybody knows what he can do. But we have always spoken about what we do, what we do ourselves as a team. We don't worry about the opposition."