El Clasico: 5 reasons why Real Madrid will beat Barcelona

#2 Competition for first-team spots

Gareth Bale is one of many superstars fighting for a spot in the Champions League final

Admittedly, this is a double-edged sword, as rotations prior to such a huge match are often regarded critically. However, for Real Madrid this makes perfect sense.

With many superstars sat on the sidelines waiting for their chances, a stand-out performance against the champions could significantly increase their chances of starting in Kiev come May 26th.

Being able to leave the likes of Gareth Bale, Casemiro and Isco on the sidelines is a luxury that almost no other team in Europe can afford. With the ambitions of the players lying in first-team football, each of them will be eager to impress Zidane and boost their chances.

Having a tough match against Bayern last Tuesday could be viewed as a disadvantage, but advancing to the final is the best that could have happened to lift the entire mood at the club. With such a plethora of talent at his disposal, Zidane's toughest task will be selecting the eleven men that he feels will do the job.