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Gareth Bale benched for Real Madrid vs. Juventus in UCL final

Gareth Bale will have to content himself with a place on the bench as Real Madrid take on Juventus in the Champions League final in Cardiff.

Bale, who has only recently returned from a calf injury and has not played since April 23, did not make Zinedine Zidane's starting XI for the game in his home country, with in-form Isco preferred instead.

Real are at virtual full strength with Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in defence, while Toni Kroos and Luka Modric partner in midfield. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema join Isco in attack.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will beat Paolo Maldini's record as the oldest player to win the UEFA Champions League (39 years, 126 days old) if the Italian side are successful.

He has the trio Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini ahead of him, while Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic make up central midfield.

Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala start up front, alongside Mario Mandzukic but there is no place for Stefano Sturaro (thigh) or winger Marko Pjaca (knee) who are both injured.

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Khedira, Pjanic; Dani Alves, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuaín.

Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.