Striker Karim Benzema has returned to the Real Madrid starting line-up as Los Blancos look to seal their place in the Champions League last 16 at Shakhtar Donetsk tonight (18:55 CET).

Benzema back after recovering from injury

Benzema has missed Madrid’s last three games after being sidelined with a muscle injury picked up in the LaLiga defeat to Valencia at the start of November.

Mariano Díaz makes way for the Frenchman, while Ferland Mendy returns to the left-back spot in place of Marcelo, and Martin Odegaard comes into the midfield for Casemiro.

Casemiro is one booking away from a Champions League suspension; his absence from the line-up suggests Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane is looking to ensure he is available for their matchday-six meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach, which could decide who wins Group B.

In attack, injury victim Eden Hazard is replaced by Rodrygo Goes.

Three points will send Madrid through to Champions League last 16

Real Madrid will be guaranteed qualification for the Champions League knockout stages if they beat Shakhtar in Kyiv this evening.

Check out the Champions League Group B standings

Confirmed Real Madrid XI vs Shakhtar Donetsk:

Starting line-up: Courtois; Vázquez, Nacho, Varane, Mendy; Kroos, Modric, Odegaard; Asensio, Benzema and Rodrygo

Substitutes: Lunin, Altube, Militao, Marcelo, Casemiro, Vinicius, Isco, Mariano, Arribas, Chust

Confirmed Shakhtar Donetsk XI vs Real Madrid:

Starting line-up: Trubin, Dodo, Stepanenko, Taison, Moraes, Marlos, Tete, Kovalenko, Matviienko, Vitao, Bondar

Substitutes: Shevchenko, Pyatov, Cipiriano, Bolbat, Marcos, Dentinho, Solomon, Patrick, Maycon, Sudakov, Fernando

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