Courtois starts, Bale on the bench, Vinicius left out
Julen Lopetegui has announced his starting XI against Espanyol and there is no place in the squad for the 18-year-old Brazilian.
Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui has announced his final squad for the match against Espanyol in the Bernabéu with the big news being Gareth Bale’s demotion to the bench and the absence from the final cut once again of precocious Brazilian teenager Vinicius.
With the Real boss leaning on his squad as Madrid face five games in two weeks, it was expected that Vincius may get his chance to make his debut on Saturday but the 18-year-old was one of two players to be dropped from the squad at the 11th hour, along with third-choice keeper Kiko Casilla.
Thibaut Courtois has been reinstated in goal, with Keylor Navas dropping to the bench after keeping a clean sheet against Roma.
Álvaro Odriozola will make his Real Madrid debut in place of the injured Dani Carvajal on the right of defence while Toni Kroos has been handed the evening off.
Benzema preferred to Mariano
Sergio Reguilón and Jesús Vallejo are the other two canteranos to be omitted from the final squad, with Nacho starting on the left in place of Marcelo and Dani Ceballos coming into the midfield alongside Casemiro.
Karim Benzema starts as a lone striker, with Mariano again confined to the bench despite his eye-catching cameo against Roma in the Champions League.
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Odriozola, Varane, Ramos, Nacho; Casemiro, Ceballos; Isco, Modric, Asensio; Benzema