Benzema back as Real Madrid eye Shakhtar revenge

Karim Benzema is back in the Real Madrid starting XI to face Shakhtar Donetsk as one of four changes made by Zinedine Zidane.

The influential French centre-forward has six goals in 11 appearances across all competitions this season, but he has not featured since netting in a 4-1 LaLiga defeat to Valencia on November 8.

In his absence due to a muscular issue, Benzema's team-mates have fared little better, following a 1-1 draw at Villarreal with a 2-1 defeat at home to Deportivo Alaves.

They did at least manage a 2-0 win against Inter in between those domestic disappointments, leaving them second in Champions League Group B.

Madrid are on seven points, one shy of Borussia Monchengladbach and three ahead of a Shakhtar side who claimed a shock 3-2 win in the Spanish capital to launch their campaign.

Zidane has also recalled Ferland Mendy, Martin Odegaard and Rodrygo to face the Ukrainian champions.

¡Nuestro XI inicial @FCShakhtar! @Liberbank | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/TEc4pImQzR

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 1, 2020