Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane opted to leave top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo at home for his side's La Liga game away to bottom club Malaga on Sunday.
The Frenchman also decided to leave ex-Tottenham duo Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in the capital whilst countryman Raphael Varane was also dropped.
Ronaldo, who has 23 goals in the league this season, has now been rested for four of Real's last five away games in La Liga.
Zidane is trying to keep him sharp for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, with the Portuguese superstar missing his side's trips to Leganes, Espanyol and Las Palmas.
The plan has so far paid dividends, with Ronaldo scoring in all 10 of Madrid's European games this season.
It included netting the decisive stoppage-time penalty in the 3-1 defeat to Juventus on Wednesday, with the spot kick sending them into yet another semi-final, going through 4-3 on aggregate.
Madrid have had a mixed season, struggling domestically and they currently sit in fourth behind runaway leaders Barcelona, city rivals Atletico and Valencia.
A win over struggling Malaga, who sit rock bottom with 17 points and 14 adrift from safety, would lift Zidane's side above up to third after the Catalans beat Valencia 2-1 on Saturday.
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