Zinedine Zidane has managed his injury situation notably, hardly missing a step, but three players in particular must prove that they are ready for a high-intensity match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. Casemiro made his return against Cultural Leonesa, but his time spent away from the pitch was immediately noticeable, so the French boss decided he wasn't ready to start in El Clasico. Mateo Kovacic has been left out of the squad, and all signs point to the Brazilian defensive midfielder being included in the starting XI. Karim Benzema, for his part, has been far from his best, some in the capital debating whether Alvaro Morata should've been given more of a chance. The French striker has continued to look for the consistency he needs to lead the line for Los Blancos, and while Zidane has backed his compatriot, Morata is now back in the squad, hungry for more minutes. Finally, James Rodriguez's situation and lack of playing time is well known, but an injury to Gareth Bale could open up the door for his return. The Colombian is working hard to change his fortunes, training immediately after the Clasico snub as if he had a point to prove. Zidane chose Mariano, Asensio and Casemiro all ahead of the attacking midfielder, so he'll need as many minutes as he can get if he is to avoid being sold in the January transfer window.
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