TEAM NEWS: Varane partners Pepe in defence as Real Madrid host Dortmund

07-Nov-2012 12:15:00 AM

The 19-year-old Frenchman is named in Jose Mourinho's starting XI for their Champions League clash this evening, while Gonzalo Higuain starts upfront for Los Blancos

Real Madrid make two changes from the side that beat Real Zaragoza 4-0 in La Liga at the weekend, as Raphael Varane slots in at centre-back in place of Raul Albiol and Xabi Alonso replaces Michael Essien in midfield.

Sergio Ramos plays at right-back tonight, while Alvaro Arbeloa, who returned from injury last week, covers at left-back in the absence of Fabio Coentrao and Marcelo.

Alonso missed Los Merengues' match against Zaragoza due to a domestic suspension, but returns to Mourinho's line-up tonight, as he joins Luka Modric in a double pivot for Madrid, who set up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

Jurgen Klopp has named the same eleven players that started Borussia Dortmund's 0-0 Bundesliga draw with Stuttgart at the weekend, with Sebastien Kehl available tonight despite suffering a facial innjury during that match.

The Dortmund captain will wear a special protective mask for the game this evening after undergoing a hospital procedure that took six hours on Sunday.

Robert Lewandowski is the lone striker for Die Borussen, but is supported by the exciting trio of Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Kevin Grosskreutz.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Arbeloa; Alonso, Modric; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Higuain

Subs: Adan, Carvalho, Albiol, Nacho, Kaka, Essien, Callejon

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Kehl, Gundogan; Gotze, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski

Subs: Langerak, Lowe, Felipe Santana, Bender, Leitner, Perisic, Schieber