Zidane set to make six changes for Espanyol match
Zidane has left out Navas, Modric and Benzema from his matchday squad; a move which will see Casilla, Kovacic and Morata start, with Nacho, Pepe and Asensio also handed opportunities. Real Madrid-Espanyol
Zinedine Zidane is set to ring the changes to his Real Madrid side for the visit of Espanyol to the Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon.
"We are looking for players to be 100% every time they play. Let's see how we're going to do it tomorrow,” the French coach said in his Friday press conference, hinting at rotations from the team that beat Napoli in the Champions League in midweek.
Zidane is likely to give rest to more than half of the players who featured in that game, with up to six new faces moving into the starting XI for the LaLiga clash against the ninth-placed Catalan outfit.
Starts for Morata, Kovacic and Nacho
From the outset, Zizou has left out Keylor Navas, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema from his match day squad; a move which will see Kiko Casilla, Kovacic and Álvaro Morata all make a start. Additionally with Sergio Ramos injured, Pepe will fill the captain’s vacancy.
After coming on against Napoli, the Portuguese will make his first start since December and form a centre-back partnership with Nacho, while Varane is rested.
The sixth change in the eleven will involve Marco Asensio, who Zizou will give the chance to star against him former team. The the other five positions should be completed by Carvajal, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos and Cristiano.
