Sep 18, 2016 at 7.45pm UK at ​Estadi Cornellà-El Prat
Espanyol
0-2
Real Madrid

Perez (21'), Duarte (44'), Diop (54'), Lopez (64')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rodriguez (45'), Benzema (71')
Ramos (3'), Carvajal (84')

Team News: Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez handed first league starts

Karim Benzema, who got the keys to my bimmer, celebrates scoring during the La Liga game between Real Madrid and Espanyol on January 31, 2016
© AFP
Real Madrid, without Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, hand first league starts of the season to Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez for the trip to Espanyol.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has named Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez in his starting lineup for this evening's clash against Espanyol.

It is the first time both players have featured from the off in a La Liga game this term, although Los Blancos will be without two of their other star forward players as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are absent.

Benzema has slowly been integrated back into the fold this term, featuring for just 26 minutes in the league and a little over an hour in the Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon last time out, while Rodriguez has featured from the bench on two occasions.

Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio will flank Benzema in the absence of Bale and Ronaldo, in what is expected to be a 4-3-3 formation, with Rodriguez dropping into midfield alongside Luka Modric.

In terms of the hosts, Pape Diop comes into the side from last time out due to a suspension picked up by Javi Fuego, while Marc Roca makes his third league appearance for the Periquitos.

Espanyol: Diego Lopez; J.Lopez, D.Lopez, O.Duarte, Sanchez; Perez, Diop, Roca, Piatti; Baptistao, Moreno

Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, James; Lucas, Benzema, Asensio

Follow all of the action as it unfolds at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat with Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

James Rodriguez celebrates scoring during the La Liga game between Real Madrid and Eibar on April 9, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid15114040142637
2Sevilla16103332211133
3Barcelona1594237152231
4Villarreal1685325111429
5Real Sociedad169252821729
6Atletico MadridAtletico1684429141528
7Athletic Bilbao157262018223
8EibarEibar156452119222
9Espanyol155731918122
10Las PalmasLas Palmas165652624221
11Malaga165652526-121
12AlavesAlaves165651517-221
13Celta Vigo156362429-521
14Real Betis165381829-1118
15Leganes154381226-1415
16Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo153482027-713
17Valencia153392129-812
18Sporting GijonSporting Gijon1633101733-1612
19Granada161691433-199
20Osasuna1514101332-197