Fielding the BBC in the derby would be a step backwards...
Overall, Real Madrid haven't done so badly after playing more than half a year without their trusty Bale-Benzema-Cristiano 'BBC' frontline. During that time, the team has won four trophies and produced some unforgettable performances - like for instance the Champion League final against Juventus or the historic undoing of Barça in the second leg of the Supercup. But crucially, the team has in fact progressed as a result of being without the three acclaimed forwards; Madrid are now more of a team, they are more balanced when they play with four midfielders. But does Zidane think the same? That, we don't know. He has never directly responded to that question; he hardly answers any questions about the BBC, and he has hardly been forced to choose between two of the three to fill the two attacking positions because either injury or suspension has meant that at least one of them has always been unavailable.
Zidane should stick with his 4-4-2 system against Atlético
Whenever Bale has been fit, either Cristiano or Benzema haven't and that has determined how the team has been selected, while the system appears to have modified definitively. However, now it seems that all three are fully fit just in time for the crucial derby meeting with Atlético at the Wanda. Bearing in mind the sluggish start to the campaign and the team's struggles to find the net in recent outings, some commentators feel that Zidane should revert to hi old system and start with Bale, Benzema and Cristiano against Atleti. But going back to the 4-3-3 set-up would imply that there are doubts about the team and would be bad news for Isco and Asensio among others. And it's not hard to picture Simeone gleefully rubbing his hands together at the thought of seeing the BBC back together...
Events have now overtaken this article, with Bale managing to injure himself in training, so he won't be playing in this derby...