Gareth Bale benched, Karim Benzema starts as Real Madrid target fourth UCL final in five years

Gareth Bale must settle for a place on the bench once more as Real Madrid welcome Bayern Munich for their Champions League semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu.

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

The Welshman started and scored after eight minutes in the 2-1 win over Leganes on the weekend, but that was not enough to convince manager Zinedine Zidane for a place in the starting XI against Bayern, a tie in which they hold a 2-1 aggregate lead.

Karim Benzema does retain his place from Saturday's La Liga victory, however, having started among the substitutes with Bale in Germany last week.

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Elsewhere, with Isco and Dani Carvajal injured, Lucas Vazquez starts at right-back, while Mateo Kovacic also comes into the side.

Bayern Munich have made three changes meanwhile, with Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso coming in for injured duo Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben, while Thiago replaces Javi Martinez in midfield.

Real Madrid XI: Navas, Lucas Vazquez, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Kovacic, Kroos, Modric, Asensio, Benzema, Ronaldo

Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Casemiro, Theo Hernandez, Mayoral, Ceballos

Bayern Munich XI: Ulreich, Kimmich, Sule, Hummels, Alba, Thiago, Tolisso, Rodriguez, Muller, Lewandowski, Ribery

Subs: Starke, Wagner, Martinez, Rafinha, Mai, Rudy, Dorsch

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