Line-ups: Ozil, Modric both start

Mesut Ozil and Luka Modric both start for Real Madrid for Sunday night’s League encounter with Deportivo.

Coach Jose Mourinho has selected the duo in the starting line-up for the first time this season, with Modric perhaps set for a deeper role, with Xabi Alonso dropping out. Meanwhile, Raphael Varane returns to the line-up once more, this time in place of Alvaro Arbeloa, with Sergio Ramos expected to move to right-back as a result.

Sami Khedira is also reinstated to the line-up, in favour of Michael Essien, whilst Gonzalo Higuain starts this time in favour of Karim Benzema up top.

Meanwhile, visitors Depor have made two changes to the team that lost at home to Sevilla last week, first with the absent Aythami Artiles replaced in the centre of defence by Ze Castro. Second, Juan Carlos Valeron will have to wait a little while longer for his 300th appearance in La Liga as he drops to the bench in favour of Alex Bergantinos.

Starting line-ups

Real Madrid: Casillas; Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Khedira, Modric; Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria; Higuain

Deportivo: Aranzubia; Pablo, Ze Castro, Marchena, Evaldo; Dominguez, Alex, Aguilar; Gama, Pizzi; Riki

Tags benzema Deportivo Higuain Modric Ozil Varane
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