CONFIRMED lineups: Shakhtar vs Real Madrid, Champions League

Benítez has decided to start Kovacic and Casemiro alongside Modric, keeping Kroos, James and Benzema on the bench. Isco gets the nod as well. But the most surprising choice has been starting Kiko Casilla between the sticks. Carvajal also starts in the right-back spot.

Shakhtar Starting XI: Pyatov, Kobin, Ordets, Rakitskiy, Azevedo, Fred, Stepanenko, Marlos, Teixeira, Bernard and Gladkiy.

Real Madrid Starting XI: Casilla, Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Nacho, Kovacic, Modric, Casemiro, Bale, Ronaldo, Isco.

It is extremely important for Real to win this game not only to bounce back from the devastating loss against Barcelona but also to clinch the first spot in the Group Stage. Benítez and his men should be good enough to beat Shakhtar, but they will need to provide a decent effort against the Ukrainian team if they want to earn all three points, because they have quality to take advantage of any mistakes by their opposition.