Real to rest stars for Moscow trip

Real Madrid will rest Luis Figo, Raúl González, Zinedine Zidane and Fernando Hierro for their Champions League game against Lokomotiv Moscow.

Vicente Del Bosque has decided to rest his star players in a bid to keep them fresh for next Sunday's league match against Barcelona.

With Real Madrid safely through to the next stage of the competition, Del Bosque has called on eight reserve team players to make up the lost numbers.

Oscar Miñambres, Francisco Pavón, Francisco-Davida Souza, Rubén González, Raúl Bravo, Borja Fernández, Baldo and Carlos Aranda will join first team squad members Dominguez César, Iker Casillas, Claude Makelele, Fernando Morientes, Pedro Munitis, Santiago Solari, Steve McManaman, Albert Celades and Ivan Helguera for the Lokomotiv match.

However, Argentine midfielder Solari was quick to point out that the Merengues were taking the game seriously.

"Even though we won't be playing for anything in Moscow, Real Madrid will be trying to put in an admirable display for international prestige and everyone sees this game as a trial run for next weekend's visit from Barca," Solari said on Monday, adding that the game will serve as handy experience for the players who rarely feature in the first team.