Team News: Ferland Mendy starts for Real Madrid against Shakhtar Donetsk

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has selected Ferland Mendy in his starting side for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.

Mendy is yet to play this season due to a leg injury but has been thrown straight into the first XI for the European fixture.

Ancelotti has opted for Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro in the middle of the park, meanwhile, with Federico Valverde named on the bench.

Lucas Vazquez is preferred to Nacho at right-back, while Rodrygo is given the nod alongside Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior in the final third of the field.

Eder Militao and David Alaba had both emerged as doubts for this match last week, but the pair start, while Thibaut Courtois, as expected, is selected between the sticks.

Los Blancos are missing Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Isco, Dani Carvajal, Gareth Bale and Dani Ceballos for Tuesday's clash through injury.

Full Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Junior