James: Real Madrid man given first LaLiga start in 66 days
The Colombian midfielder had not been in a Real Madrid line-up in the league since a home draw with Villarreal in week five.
![James: Real Madrid man given first LaLiga start in 66 days](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/B72XI52UNVJAPCAQ266APWWPRA.jpg?auth=7ea8e8eb9bd9f71c2a6e3cf99fa4b6ab3f1b69d89a6e4a5226ab8d879c95b313&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Real Madrid's home clash with Sporting Gijon on Saturday saw midfielder James Rodríguez handed his first LaLiga start for Los Blancos in a whopping 66 days.
Last began a Real league match in September
Since featuring for the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal at the Bernabéu on 21 September, James had not been in the line-up in seven straight league games.
The Colombian has enjoyed a mere 27 minutes of top-flight action in that time (although it must be noted that he was out injured for two of those seven fixtures).
![James (left) in action in Real Madrid's 1-1 draw with Villarreal in September.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/N43O5J4EXFN3RGABWREH42PHIQ.jpg?auth=570ca6a5496cc56781dee35a32f0e625d0b0836261fe81424f1b1e1cacc0c784&width=360)
Did start in the Copa in late October...
Despite failing to start a LaLiga fixture in just over two months, James did begin Real's Copa del Rey victory at Cultural Leonesa on 26 October.
That evening, the 25-year-old ex-Porto and Monaco player provided three assists as the Spanish capital outfit won the sides' last-32 first leg 7-1.
More game time than just four other squad members
After a fine first campaign at Madrid in the 2014/15 season, James has since endured a frustrating time at the European champions.
This term, he has only played more minutes than third-choice keeper Rubén Yáñez, young striker Mariano Díaz, left-back understudy Fabio Coentrao and midfielder Casemiro, who is just returning after a nearly ten-week injury lay-off.