Mateo Kovacic, as expected, enters the Real Madrid fold for this afternoon’s La Liga visit of Athletic Bilbao, but there is no Marcelo.

Zinedine Zidane revealed at his pre-match Press conference that Isco would be rested for the Croatian, and he has kept to his word, while the left-back’s shoulder injury means Danilo is drafted in.

Athletic, on the other hand, are without suspended duo Mikel San Jose and Inaki Williams, so Ander Iturraspe comes into central midfielder and Oscar De Marcos fills in for the latter on the right wing.

Elsewhere, a late injury to Markel Susaeta merits Sabin Merino’s inclusion on the left flank, while Xabier Etxeita is preferred to Eneko Boveda as Los Leones look to end a miserable run of 11 straight defeats at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Danilo; Kroos, Modric, Kovacic; James, Benzema, Ronaldo

Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Casemiro, Arbeloa, Vazquez, Jese, Isco

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; Lekue, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; Benat, Iturraspe; De Marcos, Eraso, Sabin; Aduriz

Subs: Herrerin, Boveda, Rico, Gurpegi, Elustondo, Muniain, Viguera

Referee: Alvarez Izquierdo

La Liga - Club News