Team News: Nacho starts for Real Madrid in David Alaba's absence

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has handed a start to Nacho in Saturday's La Liga contest with Rayo Vallecano, with David Alaba out through injury.

Alaba has been left out of the squad for the match with Rayo due to muscular overload, which has opened the door for Nacho to feature alongside Eder Militao in the middle of the defence.

Gareth Bale was also left out of the travelling party, but the league leaders are otherwise at full strength, with Mariano Diaz and Federico Valverde overcoming recent problems to make the bench.

There are no surprises in the Real Madrid XI on Saturday, with Karim Benzema leading the line, Vinicius Junior operating on the left, and Marco Asensio playing off the right.

Ancelotti has also again selected his first-choice midfield three, with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro featuring in the middle of the park.

Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy will operate in the full-back positions for Los Blancos, while Thibaut Courtois features between the sticks.

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius