MADRID, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui confirmed on Friday that he will make changes to his starting 11 when Real entertain Espanyol in the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Espanyol have had a solid start to the new season with 7 points from their first four games under new coach Rubi but habitually struggle against Real Madrid, with just one win in their last 22 meetings.
Meanwhile, Lopetegui will take the chance to rest players following Wednesday's 3-0 win at home to Roma in the Champions League and ahead of a more difficult-looking midweek trip to face Sevilla.
"Football is not about your starting 11. In every game 14 players participate and everyone is important in a squad that wants to win," said Lopetegui in his pre-game press conference on Friday.
"No two players in the squad are the same and everyone will try to put what we do into practice," he added.
One player certain to start is Alvaro Odriozola. The right back signed for around 40 million euros from Real Sociedad over the summer has yet to make his Liga Santander debut, but will get the chance because of a thigh injury suffered by Dani Carvajal in midweek.
Mariano Diaz could also start instead of Karim Benzema after celebrating his return to Madrid with an excellent goal after coming on as a second-half substitute against Roma, while others such as Marco Asensio, Nacho Fernandez and Dani Ceballos have a good chance of coming into the side.
Lopetegui was unwilling to say whether young Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr., who cost 45 million euros this summer, will be in his first team squad.
Vinicius has so far been limited to appearances in Madrid's Castilla side, who play in the third tier of the Spanish game, and although he has impressed with three goals, all Lopetegui would say when asked about his possible call up was "we always take our decisions based on what is best for the team."
At the back, everything points to Thibaut Courtois returning in goal after Keylor Navas made his first appearance of the season in midweek.
