Karim Benzema made his return to the Real Madrid starting line-up after missing the last seven games with a knee injury for his side's Champions League semi-final, second leg at home to Juventus on Wednesday.

The European champions need to turn around a 2-1 first leg deficit against the Italian champions, who are also boosted as Benzema's French international teammate Paul Pogba is fit to start.

Pogba made his return from a near two-month layoff and scored Juventus' goal in a 1-1 draw at home to Cagliari on Saturday.

Another French international Raphael Varane is preferred to Pepe alongside Sergio Ramos in the centre of the Madrid defence.

Gareth Bale is retained alongside Benzema and World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo in attack despite his poor form of late.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri resists the temptation to switch to a five at the back as Andrea Barzagli is once again left out.

Indeed the only change from last week's first leg sees Pogba replace Stefano Sturaro in midfield.

Alvaro Morata, who scored the opener last week, starts on his return to the Bernabeu having come through the Real youth system before moving to Italy last summer.

Starting line-ups:

Real Madrid (4-3-3)

Iker Casillas (capt); Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Isco, James Rodriguez; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti (ITA)

Juventus (4-4-2)

Gianluigi Buffon (capt); Stephan Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra; Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal; Carlos Tevez, Alvaro Morata

Coach: Massimiliano Allegri (ITA)

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)