MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 08:39:35| >> :120:16971:16971:
[monks data]
Espanyol logo
La Liga
Sep 18, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-1)
Rodriguez (45'), Benzema (71')

Team News: Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez handed first league starts

Real Madrid, without Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, hand first league starts of the season to Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez for the trip to Espanyol.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has named Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez in his starting lineup for this evening's clash against Espanyol.

It is the first time both players have featured from the off in a La Liga game this term, although Los Blancos will be without two of their other star forward players as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are absent.

Benzema has slowly been integrated back into the fold this term, featuring for just 26 minutes in the league and a little over an hour in the Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon last time out, while Rodriguez has featured from the bench on two occasions.

Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio will flank Benzema in the absence of Bale and Ronaldo, in what is expected to be a 4-3-3 formation, with Rodriguez dropping into midfield alongside Luka Modric.

In terms of the hosts, Pape Diop comes into the side from last time out due to a suspension picked up by Javi Fuego, while Marc Roca makes his third league appearance for the Periquitos.

Espanyol: Diego Lopez; J.Lopez, D.Lopez, O.Duarte, Sanchez; Perez, Diop, Roca, Piatti; Baptistao, Moreno

Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, James; Lucas, Benzema, Asensio

Follow all of the action as it unfolds at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat with Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

ID:281567: cacheID:281567:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3434:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
James Rodriguez celebrates scoring during the La Liga game between Real Madrid and Eibar on April 9, 2016
Read Next:
Report: Mourinho wants James Rodriguez
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Buccaneers
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!