MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 10:28:48| >> :120:35679:35679:
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Attendance: 19,805
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La Liga
Feb 27, 2018 at 7pm UK
 
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1-0

Moreno (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Team News: Gareth Bale leads Real Madrid line at Espanyol, Cristiano Ronaldo misses out

Gareth Bale will lead Real Madrid's forward line against Espanyol in the absence of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, as boss Zinedine Zidane makes five changes.

Gareth Bale will lead Real Madrid's forward line against Espanyol in the absence of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Los Blancos' famed 'BBC' forward trio all netted in the 4-0 win over Alaves at the weekend - the first time that has happened since April 2016.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has opted to rotate for the midweek trip to the RCDE Stadium, however, as Benzema drops down to the bench and Ronaldo misses out on the 18-man squad entirely.

With an eye on next week's crucial Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at Paris Saint-Germain, Zidane has instead turned to in-form attacker Marco Asensio to support Bale in one of five changes from last time out.

Captain Sergio Ramos returns from suspension and Marcos Llorente is also handed a rare start - his third of the season - taking over from the absent Casemiro, who is out with a stomach complaint.

As far as the home side are concerned, they will be led by top scorer Gerard Moreno, boasting 10 goals in 24 La Liga outings this term, while support will be offered by Pablo Piatti and Sergio Garcia.

Central midfield is comprised of Carlos Sanchez, Sergi Darder and David Lopez, meanwhile, as the Periquitos look to climb the table from their current position of 18th.

Espanyol: Diego Lopez; Navarro, Victor Sanchez, Duarte, Aaron; Darder, David Lopez, Carlos Sanchez; Piatti, Gerard, Sergio Garcia
Subs: Paul Lopez, Naldo, Jurado, Baptistao, Didac, Roca, Granero

Real Madrid: Navas; Achraf, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Llorente, Kovacic; Lucas Vazquez, Isco, Asensio; Bale
Subs: Kiko Casilla, Carvajal, Theo, Dani Ceballos, Oscar, Borja Mayoral, Benzema

Follow all of the action as it unfolds in Catalonia with Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

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Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring during the La Liga game between Getafe and Real Madrid on October 14, 2017
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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