Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema benched as Lucas selected with Isco, James Rodriguez starts for Bayern

Updated 25/04/2018 at 17:43 GMT

Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are both on the bench for Real Madrid for the first leg of their semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid's midfielder Isco celebrates his second goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs RCD Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 1, 2017.

Image credit: Getty Images

Bale has been struggling for form and fitness this season whilst Benzema has come in for some heavy criticism despite public support from his manager and team-mates.

Lucas Vazquez and Isco are the two players who are selected to start in attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo with the team as expected elsewhere.

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For Bayern James Rodriguez, who is on-loan from Real, starts in midfield in an attacking line-up that sees the Colombian play with Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery behind Robert Lewandowski.

Javi Martinez is the sole defensive midfielder with Rafinha operating at left-back.