Clasico team news: Zinedine Zidane hands Kovacic surprise start for Real Madrid against Barcelona

Published 23/12/2017 at 11:29 GMT

Underfire Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has handed Mateo Kovacic a surprise start for his side's huge lunchtime Clasico clash with Barcelona.

Dortmund's US midfielder Christian Pulisic (L) vies with Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic during the UEFA Champions League group H football match Real Madrid CF vs Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu

Image credit: Getty Images

Kovacic comes in to replace Isco as Real's number 10 for what will be his first start of the season in La Liga.

The 23-year-old Croat has only recently come back from a knee injury, while Cristiano Ronaldo has overcome a calf strain to make a start that was all but guaranteed.

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Barcelona, meanwhile, are unchanged from last weekend as Sergi Roberto continues at right back ahead of Nelson Semedo.

Paulinho continues to start behind Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as Ernesto Valverde keeps faith with his side.

The match represents a huge - and potentially pivotal - moment for Zidane with his side currently trailing leaders Barcelona by 11 points, albeit with a game in hand.

Real Madrid: Keylor; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Kovacic; Benzema, Ronaldo. Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Theo, Vazquez, Asensio, Isco

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Paulinho; Messi, Suarez. Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Denis, Mascherano, Digne, Gomes, Vidal