Benzema ruled out by hip knock

Karim Benzema was not among Real Madrid's travelling party to face Malaga. The Frenchman has picked up a hip problem and has stayed behind in the Spanish capital. His place in the squad went to Castilla young gun Borja Mayoral, who is fresh off scoring in Luis Miguel Ramis's side's win over Sestao River.

Pepe and Gareth Bale remain on the comeback trail but are not yet available to Zinedine Zidane, who also has another big-name absentee in the shape of the suspended Raphaël Varane. That means that the coach will have to pair Sergio Ramos and Nacho in the heart of defence for what is another must-win game at La Rosaleda, all the more so after Barcelona got three points again away to Las Palmas.