As expected, Karim Benzema comes back into the team in place of Gonzalo Higuain, while Ricardo Carvalho replaces the suspended Sergio Ramos in the centre of defence.

The Portuguese coach has opted for Esteban Granero in the centre of midfield in place of Lassana Diarra, as the versatile Hamit Altinop starts at right-back.

Manolo Jimenez has chosen Carlos Aranda up front instead of Helder Postiga, the club’s top scorer in La Liga this season with four goals.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Altintop, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo; Granero, Xabi Alonso; Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo; Benzema

Real Zaragoza (4-4-1-1): Roberto; Obradovic, Lanzaro, Da Silva, Paredes; Dujmovic, Apono, Micael, Lafita; Luis Garcia; Aranda

（Goal.com）

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The repercussions from that defeat remain to be seen, even eventual elimination from the Copa del Rey would be palatable for José Mourinho so long as his side’s moral isn’t sapped on their return to league business. However thankfully one decision resulting from Wednesday’s performance has already been made as Pepe is not expected to feature either against Athletic or Barcelona in midweek.

Mourinho will revert to a more offensive line-up than the trivote in midfield he used against the Catalans on Wednesday. That should mean a recall for Mesut Ozil in the playmaking role and possibly a return for Ángel Di María should he pass a fitness test.

Álvaro Arbeloa will come back in at right-back in place of Hamit Altintop and with Pepe withdrawn, Ricardo Carvalho should continue at centre-back.

In contrast to Real Madrid’s woes in midweek, Athletic took a big step towards the semi-final with a 2-0 win over Mallorca. Marcelo Bielsa’s men have now not conceded in six games and since the return of Fernando Llorente to the starting line-up have scored nine times in their last three.

Moreover, all five of Athletic’s last five goals have come from headers, an area in which Real Madrid have been very poor recently conceding five of their last six from crosses into the box.

Bielsa is expected to make just the one change from the side that started against Mallorca as Jon Aurtenetxe is suspended so Mikel San José could come into the heart of the defence. Iñigo Pérez trained at left back midweek, but Fernando Amorebieta now looks set to go in at left-back.

（Spanish football）

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Match Preview: Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao is a post from: Portugal Football Soccer News

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Lassana Diarra should come in to the right-back position with Sami Khedira partnering Xabi Alonso in midfield. Angel Di Maria and Ricardo Carvalho are injured and there are some doubts over the fitness of Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Coentrao, who missed the win over Granada.

Elsewhere, in-form striker Karim Benzema looks set to overcome a minor injury picked up against Granada at the weekend and is likely to start on Tuesday.

Joaquin is out of contention as the winger has been ruled out for a month with a strained muscle. Julio Baptista will also miss the match for Malaga.

（Goal.com）

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