Team News: Mateo Kovacic preferred to Casemiro as Real Madrid welcome Bayern Munich

Mateo Kovacic has been selected ahead of Casemiro in Real Madrid's starting lineup for this evening's Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

The 23-year-old, used for an hour in the win over Leganes last time out, starts a European match for just the fourth time this season.

Casemiro drops down to the bench for a Madrid side that also includes Lucas Vazquez at right-back, with Nacho Fernandez and Dani Carvajal both out injured.

Elsewhere, star man Cristiano Ronaldo is restored up top after being given a weekend off, but there is once again no place for Gareth Bale as Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema are given the nod.

The visitors have a number of injury problems to contend with, meanwhile, finding themselves without Arturo Vidal, Arjen Robben, Jerome Boateng, Kingsley Coman, Manuel Neuer and now Javi Martinez for his huge fixture.

In the absence of the reliable Martinez, who is at least deemed fit enough for a place among the subs, Corentin Tolisso and Thiago Alcantara are expected to link up in central midfield.

Robert Lewandowski leads the Bayern line as expected, aiming to build on a record that has seen him score 39 times in all competitions this season, while James Rodriguez starts against his parent club.

Bayern show four changes from last week's first leg, which finished 2-1 to back-to-back champions Madrid.

Real Madrid: Navas; Vazquez, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Ronaldo Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Casemiro, Theo Hernandez, Mayoral, Ceballos

Bayern Munich: Ulreich; Kimmich, Hummels, Sule, Alaba; Thiago; Muller, Tolisso, James, Ribery; Lewandowski Subs: Starke, Wagner, Martinez, Rafinha, Mai, Rudy, Dorsch

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