Karim Benzema starts for Real Madrid against Sporting CP in the Champions League this evening as Sevilla ring the changes at Juventus.
Benzema is one of five changes made by Zinedine Zidane for the visit of Sporting as Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane and Marcelo form a new-look back four with its only survivor Sergio Ramos and Casemiro returns to anchor the midfield.
Sevilla also bring in five new faces, with Sergio Rico, Gabriel Mercado, Matias Kranevitter, Vicente Iborra and Vitolo joining the remaining six in what appears to be a 4-2-3-1 formation, spearheaded by false nine Franco Vazquez.
Madrid last met Sporting – Cristiano Ronaldo’s first club – in the 2000-01 Champions League group stage, when they similarly headed into that campaign as competition holders and won 4-0.
The Andalusians, on the other hand, faced Juve at the same stage last season, losing 2-0 in the first match in Turin before exacting revenge to the tune of a 1-0 victory on home soil.
Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Casemiro; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Sporting CP: Patricio; Pereira, Coates, Semedo, Marvin; William; Gelson, Adrien, Cesar; Ruiz, Dost
Referee: Tagliavento [ITA]
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Alves, Khedira, Lemina, Asamoah, Evra; Dybala, Higuain
Sevilla: Rico; Mercado, Rami, Pareja, Escudero; N'Zonzi, Kranevitter; Vitolo, Iborra, Sarabia; Vazquez
Referee: Aytekin [GER]
