Line-ups: Madrid-Espanyol

Gareth Bale is a substitute for a weakened Real Madrid against Espanyol in La Liga this afternoon.

Bale appears in a matchday squad for the first time in 88 days after recovering from an ankle injury, although the Welshman isn’t risked from the outset.

Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, however, are missing, while Marcelo and Casemiro drop to the bench. Their places are taken by Kiko Casilla, Pepe, Mateo Kovacic, Alvaro Morata, Nacho Fernandez and Isco.

Espanyol, meanwhile, hope to end a 21-year wait for a win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Their Coach Quique Sanchez Flores played at right-back for Los Blancos the last time the Catalans tasted victory in the capital.

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Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Nacho; Kovacic, Kroos, Isco; Lucas, Morata, Ronaldo

Subs: James, Bale, Marcelo, Casemiro, Mariano, Asensio, Yanez

Espanyol: Diego Lopez; D Reyes, David Lopez, O Duarte, Aaron; Fuego, Diop; J A Reyes, Jurado, Piatti; Gerard

Subs: Roberto, R Duarte, Victor Alvarez, Caicedo, Perez, Alvaro Vazquez, Roca

Referee: Undiano Mallenco

La Liga - Club News