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TEAM NEWS: Benzema and Higuain both start for Real Madrid against Levante
Coach Jose Mourinho plays both of his strikers in an attack-minded formation for the visit of the Valencia-based side, who beat Madrid in the teams' meeting back in September
13-Feb-2012 1:21:38 AM
By Ben Hayward
Copa del Rey: Real Madrid-Málaga: Karim Benzema y Gonzalo Higuain
Both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain start for Real Madrid in Sunday night's Primera Division clash at home to Levante.
The two strikers are joined up front by Cristiano Ronaldo, with Mesut Ozil behind them and Esteban Granero also included in a midfield three.
Victory on Sunday will see Madrid move 10 points clear of fierce rivals Barca in the title race, after the Catalans went down 3-2 to Osasuna on Saturday.
Madrid lost by a single goal at Levante in the sides' league meeting at the Ciutat de Valencia back in September, but Juan Ignacio Martinez's men are without a Primera Division success in 2012.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Granero, Ozil; Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain
Subs: Adan, Carvalho, Sahin, Khedira, Kaka, Albiol, Callejon
Levante (4-4-2): Munua; Venta, Ballesteros, Cabral, Del Horno; Farinos, Iborra, El Zhar, Valdo; Serrano, Kone
Subs: K. Navas, Juanfran, Botelho, Ruben Suarez, P. Lopez, Pallardo, Ghezzal
The two strikers are joined up front by Cristiano Ronaldo, with Mesut Ozil behind them and Esteban Granero also included in a midfield three.
Victory on Sunday will see Madrid move 10 points clear of fierce rivals Barca in the title race, after the Catalans went down 3-2 to Osasuna on Saturday.
Madrid lost by a single goal at Levante in the sides' league meeting at the Ciutat de Valencia back in September, but Juan Ignacio Martinez's men are without a Primera Division success in 2012.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Granero, Ozil; Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain
Subs: Adan, Carvalho, Sahin, Khedira, Kaka, Albiol, Callejon
Levante (4-4-2): Munua; Venta, Ballesteros, Cabral, Del Horno; Farinos, Iborra, El Zhar, Valdo; Serrano, Kone
Subs: K. Navas, Juanfran, Botelho, Ruben Suarez, P. Lopez, Pallardo, Ghezzal
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