Real Madrid But who will be dropped?

Real Madrid need a spark to get them going again after their 3-0 loss in the Clasico and Zinedine Zidane hopes that Gareth Bale can be the man to revitalise the team.

It made sense that the No.11 was left on the bench for the Clasico, given that he has just returned from injury, but now he has been a substitute for three matches in a row and is ready to start again after nine minutes against Al-Jazira, 11 against Gremio and 18 against Barcelona.

Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and Karim Benzema would rarely be likely to play together, but Zidane won't have to make that tough decision in the next match, given that it will be a Copa del Rey game against Numancia on January 4, one which would have seen some stars rested anyway.

On January 7, however, Real Madrid visit Celta Vigo in LaLiga and the French coach will have to leave somebody on the bench, with Bale set to start.

He could leave Isco out and play the BBC front three together for the first time in eight months, or he could leave someone else out, perhaps Benzema, in order to play Isco and Bale together.

Either way, Bale is set to start and Los Blancos must hope he kickstarts their season.