Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos ruled out for Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund but Marco Asensio returns

Marco Asensio is back in Zinedine Zidane's 18-man squad to face Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night (4 December) after the Real Madrid starlet missed the last three games due to a muscle injury.

Gareth Bale and Luca Zidane remain on the sidelines while Dani Carvajal will also miss the Champions League dead rubber clash with the Bundesliga side due to suspension.

Furthermore, Zidane has also left Toni Kroos, Jesus Vallejo and Achraf out of the Real squad with the visit of Dortmund coming only three days before the crucial La Liga clash with Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real have already guaranteed themselves a place in the last 16 as Group H runners-up behind Tottenham Hotspur but Dortmund are still battling with Apoel Nicosia for a place in the Europa League.

Zidane is thus expected to rest some key players ahead of the visit of Sevilla.

Asensio could replace Isco in the attack with the 21-year-old forward having been out of action since suffering an external obturator injury in his right leg during the 6-0 victory over Apeol on 21 November.

The visit of Dortmund will still come too early for Bale and Luca but Zidane said in his pre-match press conference that the Welshman is not completely ruled out of the weekend game.

Caravajal is also unavailable after the Real first-choice right-back was booked during the win over Apoel a fortnight ago.

The versatile Nacho is tipped to fill the void in defence with Zidane having also left Achraf out of the squad alongside Vallejo and Kroos.

The absence of the German international is the most surprising one but Zidane still has a number of options to replace him in the form of Mateo Kovacic, Dani Ceballos or Marcos Llorente.

Whoever plays, the Real boss expects his side to produce a strong performance following two consecutive disappointing draws against Fuenlabrada in the Copa del Rey and with Athletic Club Bilbao in La Liga.

"We know they've got a lot to play for. We've already qualified but we're focused on giving a good performance. We won't consider our opponent's position, we'll only be looking at ourselves, and that means playing a good match," Zidane said in the press conference ahead of the visit of Dortmund.

"I think my team look in good shape but it's true we have to score more goals. The situation is not ideal in LaLiga because we're eight points behind and that's for a reason, but I'm relaxed about it because I'm sure that's going to change. We're playing ok and I don't care what people are saying on the outside".