Real Madrid start with Isco and bench Bale for Champions League final
Having not played for six weeks and being short of full fitness, Gareth Bale will not start for Real Madrid against Juventus.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kwohTGKPH3x9ACnUMH2C7h.jpg)
Isco has been named in the Real Madrid starting XI for the Champions League final against Juventus, with Gareth Bale among the substitutes.
Reports in the build-up to kick-off had suggested the Wales international would be handed a shock start, despite having not played for six weeks since aggravating an ankle injury in April's Clasico defeat to Barcelona.
Bale had said during the week he was "not 100 per cent" fit, admitting he may have rushed back from ankle surgery he underwent in November.
And Zinedine Zidane has indeed opted against starting him in attack alongside 'BBC' strike partners Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, meaning Isco plays with Bale settling for a place on the substitutes' bench.
XI ¡VAMOS! June 3, 2017
The other major selection dilemma for Zidane came at right-back with Dani Carvajal getting the nod over Danilo.
Carvajal has been out since the start of May with a thigh injury, but starts in defence along with Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo.
Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos make up the midfield three, while James Rodriguez does not even make the bench, fuelling speculation he is set to leave Madrid at the end of the season. Keylor Navas is in goal.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Juventus named their expected starting line-up, with Sami Khedira fit to play against his former club after shaking off a calf injury.
All eyes will now be on the opening stages of the match to see whether Massimiliano Allegri lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation or a 3-4-3.
Forwards Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic all play, with Khedira and Miralem Pjanic in midfield.
Alex Sandro and Dani Alves get the nod, with the latter an option to play either on the wing or as a wing-back, depending on the formation Allegri deploys. Veteran defenders Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci play in front of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack