Real Madrid Confirmed Lineup vs Borussia Dortmund: Kovacic among five changes; Modric benched

Real Madrid's coach from France Zinedine Zidane (C) stands past Real Madrid's midfielder from Croatia Mateo Kovacic during the UEFA Champions League football match Real Madrid CF vs APOEL FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Zinedine Zidane has made five changes to the side that was held by Athletic Bilbao on the weekend as Real Madrid prepare to host Borussia Dortmund.

The French manager has decided to rest a number of first-team players for the tie, with Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos not even in the squad, while the likes of Luka Modric, Marcelo and Karim Benzema are on the bench.

As a result, the likes of Theo Hernandez, Mateo Kovacic, Borja Mayoral and Lucas Vazquez have received rare starts on the night, with Cristiano Ronaldo the experienced head up front.

Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Bosz, on the other hand, has recalled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among three others for the tie, with the Gabonese striker missing the weekend’s league game against Bayer Leverkusen due to suspension.

Exit mobile version