Line-ups: Madrid-Levante

The BBC remains in transmission but both Iker Casillas and Toni Kroos are rested for Real Madrid’s visit of Levante in La Liga, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT.

Carlo Ancelotti hinted at his Press conference yesterday that the veteran goalkeeper would be benched before the Clasico next week, and he has kept to his word, with Keylor Navas starting against his former club between the sticks.

Elsewhere, Sergio Ramos features alongside Pepe at centre-back, while Kroos is replaced by Luka Modric, who makes his first start for Los Blancos since early November, having made a full recovery from a long-standing hamstring injury.

Finally, neither of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo have been sacrificed up top, despite Madrid’s recent struggles in front of goal.

Barcelona’s win at Eibar on Saturday means only three points will do for Madrid if they are to stay hot on the toes of their arch-rivals at the League summit.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Silva, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Subs: Casillas, Nacho, Varane, Illarramendi, Kroos, Jese, Chicharito

Levante: Marino; Lopez, Navarro, Ramis, Tono; Camarasa, Simao; Xumetra, Barral, Morales, Uche

Subs: Jesus, Juanfran, Sissoko, Garcia, Jose Mari, El Zhar, Victor

Referee: Perez Montero

La Liga - Club News