CONFIRMED lineups: Espanyol vs Real Madrid, la Liga 2015

Los Blancos get back in action after 15 days of FIFA break. Given that either Barcelona or Atlético de Madrid will drop points this weekend -- they face each other -- Real Madrid can't afford not to win this match.

Real Madrid starting XI: Navas, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Casemiro, Modric, Isco, Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema.

Espanyol starting XI (To Be Confirmed) : Pau López; Arbilla, Álvaro, Ciani, Duarte; Víctor Sánchez, Javi López; V. Álvarez, Salva Sevilla; Gerard and Caicedo

Keep in mind that Real will host Shakthar this next Tuesday. That one should be a manageable game but one in which Benítez will likely use his main men ahead of next Saturday's Liga match against Granada. Either way, Real Madrid should get three wins this week and it would be surprising to see them struggling against this opposition. Still, Espanyol will surely play hard to see if they have a chance against Real Madrid's tired international players.