Bale handed Clasico start for Real Madrid against Barcelona
Madrid, March 2, 2019 (AFP) - Gareth Bale returned to Real Madrid's starting line-up for their La Liga grudge match against Barcelona on Saturday.
Bale was on the bench as Madrid were beaten 3-0 by Barca in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday but Santiago Solari handed the Welshman a chance to state his case in the rematch at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Thibaut Courtois replaced Keylor Navas in goal, in the only the other change from the side that lost in midweek.
For Barcelona, Arthur Melo recovered from injury and came in for Nelson Semedo, with Sergi Roberto dropping into right-back.
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos (capt), Sergio Reguilon; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior
Coach: Santiago Solari (ARG)
Barcelona: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Arthur Melo; Lionel Messi (capt), Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele.
Coach: Ernesto Valverde (ESP)
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