Dani Carvajal returns to the starting line-up after Real Madrid's poor performance during the derby game at the Vicente Calderón. The full-back watched the Deportivo match from the bench, but is set to start this Wednesday's game in place of Arbeloa, with whom he shares his position this season. In fact, Carlo Ancelotti has probably rotated more at right-back than anywhere else in an attempt to offer two good players first-team action.

However, the Champions League game will be a special one for Carvajal, as it is his first appearance in the tournament this campaign. He has not featured since last season's final in Lisbon, which he started and was one of Real Madrid's star performers.

This season, due to injuries and rotations, Carvajal has not yet been able to enjoy a big night of European football. This one also involves a trip to Germany, where he had a stint at Bayer Leverkusen. He started last season's high-scoring win over Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen.

Carvajal picked up a training ground injury at the very beginning of the season whilst on international duty with Spain. He missed the game against Macedonia and was not fit in time for the opening Champions League fixture against Basel. Arbeloa did not feature that day either. Nacho started the game, and scored.

Carvajal also missed the Liverpool game at Anfield. He limped off during the game against Granada and did not recover in time to face the Reds. He looked set to start the return leg against Basel on the bench, but a flu virus kept him confined to the team hotel.