Luka Modric is back in the Real Madrid XI for tonight’s La Liga visit of Celta Vigo as James Rodriguez’s involvement could be his last as a Blanco.
Modric missed Madrid’s 3-0 win against Real Sociedad in last week’s opening round through suspension, but he is free to make his first start of the season in place of fellow Croatian Mateo Kovacic, who drops to the substitutes’ bench.
James’ continued role on the periphery also comes amidst claims made by AS and Sport that he may move on after the game, with Zinedine Zidane hinting pre-match that a sale could be brokered before August 31.
Celta, meanwhile, make four changes to the side that surprisingly lost 1-0 to newly-promoted Leganes as Sergi Gomez, Mariano Diaz, Pione Sisto and Iago Aspas make way for Gustavo Cabral, Nemanja Radoja, Pablo Hernandez and John Guidetti.
Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Casemiro; Bale, Morata, Asensio
Subs: Yanez, Pepe, James, Kovacic, Vazquez, Mariano, Danilo
Celta Vigo: Alvarez; Mallo, Roncaglia, Cabral, Jonny; Wass, Radoja; Hernandez, Orellana, Bongonda; Guidetti
Subs: Villar, Aspas, Sisto, Gomez, Planas, Sene, Cheikh
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea
