Jesus Vallejo will partner Raphael Varane in the heart of defence for Real Madrid as they welcome Malaga to the Bernabeu this afternoon.

The 20-year-old defender is given the nod to start in the absence of skipper Sergio Ramos, who suffered a blow to the face during last weekend's goalless draw against Atletico Madrid.

Vallejo is making his third appearance of the campaign, having also featured against Las Palmas and Fuenlabrada in the league and cup, being shown a red card against the latter last month.

Elsewhere, Zinedine Zidane has stuck with Kiko Casilla in goal, despite the return to fitness of Keylor Navas following more than a month away through injury.

Casemiro and Toni Kroos occupy central-midfield berths, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema - yet to find their groove in La Liga this term - are given the nod up top in Gareth Bale's continued absence.

The visitors are without Miguel Torres, Federico Ricca and Zdravko Kuzmanovic this afternoon, as they look for a third win in four matches to claw themselves out of the relegation zone.

Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Vallejo, Varane, Marcelo; Isco, Casemiro, Kroos, Vazquez; Ronaldo, Benzema
Subs: Navas, Modric, Kovacic, Mayoral, Ceballos, Theo, Llorente

Malaga: Roberto; Rosales, Luis Hernandez, Diego Gonzalez, Juankar; Recio, Adrian, Keko Gontan, Chory; D.Rolan, Penaranda
Subs: Andres Prieto, Rolon, Borja, Juanpi, Ontiveros, Baysse, Mula

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